Jehay Castle (Belgium)
Wallonia See list of castles in Belgio
The Château de Jehay, classified exceptional heritage of Wallonia, is an emblematic site and one of the major tourist attractions of the Province of Liège.
Domain - Province of Liège ©
The building, with its unique "checkerboard" architecture unique in Europe, was created in the middle of the 16th century and has evolved since then.
The castle was owned by Count Guy van den Steen of Jehay and his wife Lady Moyra Butler, a descendant of an illustrious family of Irish aristocracy. In 1978, the count sold, in life, the estate, the castle and part of its collections to the Provincie Liege with the hope of seeing this place maintained and safeguarded for future generations.
The dependencies of the domain welcome many visitors. A tourist film proposes a discovery of the history of the site but also a virtual visit of the castle, as it lived formerly its last owner.
Permanent exhibitions unveil two complementary facets of the history of these high quality collections.
The castle, surrounded by moats, is located in an idyllic setting. The so-called "Italian-style" parks and gardens are veritable havens of greenery in which remarkable trees and trellised linden alleys stand side by side.
The former kitchen garden, dating from the nineteenth century, has recently been rehabilitated. At the edge of the wood, surrounded by a brick wall and extending over an area of one hectare, the place invites to daydream. Visitors will discover varieties of ancient vegetables, edible flowers, fruit trees or delicate roses ..