Petite-Somme Castle

Petite-Somme Castle, locally known as Château de Petite-Somme, lies next to a small village by the same name, in the province of Luxembourg in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

Petite-Somme Castle was first mentioned in the 11th century. Its owner, a Gozelon de Montaiqude, apparently plundered property of the Abbey of Saint Hubert. After he died, his widow offered the castle to the abbey as penance.

In the early 14th century, Jean de Bohême added a tower to the castle.

In 1461, Petit-Somme Castle was acquired by the Hamal family, who owned it until 1774. Afterward, several noble families succeeded each other as owners until the castle was acquired by the Favereau family. Lord Charles de Favereau demolished what had served as the Hamal family residence and rebuilt a brick country home on its foundations. Nothing of the original Petit-Somme Castle remains. The castle stayed in the Favereau family until 1877.

In that year, Louise Marie Eulalie, a relative of Baron Victor Albert de Favereau, inherited the mansion, which was still called Petit-Somme Castle. The new owners then tore down the brick mansion built by Charles de Favereau and, in 1888, reconstructed the current castle in Neo-Gothic style.

During World War I, when the castle was owned by the De Vaux family, it served as a hospital, and some outbuildings were destroyed. During World War II, in the Battle of the Bulge, the castle was occupied by American soldiers. After the war, the castle was used for recreation and remained empty for five years before being purchased by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1979. They restored the castle.

Today, Petit-Somme Castle remains owned and inhabited by Hare Krishna followers. It can be visited for a small fee, and visitors can even stay there.

I discovered this castle when driving through the Ardennes region of Belgium in 1992. I visited, and it turned out that the castle was some kind of center for Hare Krishna followers. Boy, did I get a guided tour… they even persuaded me to chant in their temple. All in all, it was unexpected fun. I didn't convert, but their homemade cookies were delicious! During the tour, they showed the castle from top to bottom and mainly discussed their beliefs.

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