Piétrebais Castle

Piétrebais Castle, locally known as Château de Piétrebais, lies in the town of Grez-Doiceau (Graven in Dutch), in the province of Walloon Brabant in Wallonia in Belgium.

The exact date when Piétrebais Castle was built is unknown. However, the Counts of Grez have been mentioned as early as the 10th century, and they may have had a fortification on this site.

From the 12th century onward, the area was controlled by the family of the Knights of Grez, who were sometimes called the Knights of Piétrebais after the stream that runs beside the castle. These knights were occasionally identified as free men and at other times as belonging to the family of the Duke of Brabant.

In 1376–1377, Lord Englebert de Grez owned "the house of Piétrebais, with its moats..." By the late 14th century, the castle had passed to the Rivieren and Baillet families.

In 1450, it became property of the d'Oultremont family, who sold it in the second half of the 17th century to Lamoral van den Berghe. In 1678, his son, Charles van den Berghe, was granted the right to bear the Limminghe family coat of arms. Both families' coats of arms are displayed on the main gate. Significant alterations were made to the castle by these families.

Around 1800, Charles de Looz-Corswarem acquired the castle, later becoming a Duke in 1816.

In 1864, the castle was purchased and restored by notary Edouard Beauthier, whose descendants still own it.

Currently, Piétrebais Castle is divided into two private residences. It is a beautiful castle, especially noted for its medieval keep next to the gate tower. Because it is private property, access is not permitted.

Gallery