Sombreffe Castle

Sombreffe Castle, locally known as Château de Sombreffe, lies northwest of the town with the same name, in the province of Namur in the Wallonia region in Belgium.

Sombreffe Castle was built in the early 13th century as a simple keep belonging to the Lords of Orbais. It served as a border fortress of the duchy of Brabant, similar to the castles of Corroy-le-Chateau, Opprebais, and Walhain. Later in the 13th century, the Lords of Orbais surrounded the keep with a circular curtain wall. This wall was equipped with several towers, a gate, and a secondary keep.

In 1446, the castle passed to the Vernembourg family through marriage. They retained ownership of the castle until 1543. Several other families owned Sombreffe Castle over time, including Culembourg, Lalaing, Ligne, Oignies, and finally the Lannoy family.

At the end of the 16th century, the upper part of the main keep, where the lord’s residence was located, was destroyed by fire. In the early 17th century, this section was rebuilt using bricks.

In the 18th century, a new residence for the lord was constructed beside the main keep. During the 19th century, the castle was used for agricultural purposes. A doctor named Geerts purchased Sombreffe Castle in 1982 and restored it.

Sombreffe Castle is a typical Belgian plain castle. Today, it is said to be used for parties, weddings, and as a restaurant. However, during my visit, it seemed it hadn't been used for these purposes for some time. Nevertheless, it remains a very nice castle. The castle’s courtyard is freely accessible, with only the main keep and the area behind it being private.

Gallery