Ham-sur-Heure Castle

Ham-sur-Heure Castle, locally known as Château de Ham-sur-Heure, lies in the town of the same name, in the province of Hainaut in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

The exact date of Ham-sur-Heure Castle's construction is unknown. It was first mentioned in the 13th century, when it came into the possession of the Condé family through marriage. By the 15th century, the d'Enghien family owned the castle. In 1487, upon the death of the last family member without heirs, it passed to the De Merode family. The castle was visited by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1540, likely leading to expansions and strengthening at that time.

In 1667, under Ferdinand de Merode, the castle was badly damaged, and the keep was destroyed during a failed siege by French armies. A protective rubble wall was added between 1669 and 1671. However, in 1689, French forces again besieged the castle; despite strong resistance from a Spanish garrison, Albert Maximilian, Ferdinand’s son, was forced to surrender, leading to partial destruction of the castle.

In the early 18th century, Joseph de Merode transformed the old fortress into a luxurious residence. Between 1776 and 1779, Balthazar-Philippe, the last Count de Merode-Deynse, began rebuilding but never finished. He left for Vienna during the French Revolution. The castle remained uninhabited for the next 70 years.

At the end of the 19th century, Louise de Rochechouart Mortemart and her daughter, Renée Victurienne de Merode, who was the wife of Charles-Jean d'Oultremont, undertook extensive renovations. They transformed the castle and shaped its current appearance over more than two decades.

During WWI, the castle hosted notable visitors, including the son of Wilhelm II, the German Emperor. From December 1918 to January 1919, Edward VIII, then Prince of Wales, stayed while visiting the Australian Army Corps stationed there.

In 1956, the municipality purchased the castle.

Today, it serves as the town hall and is not open to the public. It remains a charming castle in a rural setting.

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