La Berlière Castle (French: Château de la Berlière; Dutch: Kasteel van La Berlière) is a castle located in the village of Houtaing, within the city of Ath, in the Wallonia region of Belgium. It is designated as a protected heritage site by the Wallonia region.
History
The original construction date of the castle is unknown. The building has been rebuilt multiple times, with the first known restructuring occurring in 1677, followed by a second reconstruction from 1793 to 1835. The current appearance of the castle reflects a mixture of traditional Belgian and Renaissance styles, with a neoclassical design characterized by symmetrical and harmonious elements extending from the main building into the surrounding gardens. The 1793 design is attributed to the architect Antoine Payen dit le Vieux.
Inhabitants
There is limited information about the early inhabitants of La Berlière. It has been recorded that the family of the Count of Oultremont resided at the castle from 1845 to 1910, during which time the Count was involved in developing infrastructure for the village of Houtaing and provided local employment. In 1910, the castle was purchased by the Motte family, who occupied it until 1945.
School Use
In 1946, the castle was converted into a boarding school founded by the Congregation of the Josephite Fathers, operating as a free Catholic school for boys under the name Collège de la Berlière. The interior was renovated to include classrooms, social spaces, boarding rooms, and sports facilities. In 1996, the school merged with the Institut de la Visitation in Lessines to become Collège Visitation-La Berlière. The combined schools serve approximately 300 students, with 200 located in Houtaing and 100 in Lessines. The Houtaing campus focuses on general education, while the Lessines campus offers technical qualification courses. In September 2017, the college began enrolling female students for the first time, providing them with a separate pavilion on the castle grounds.
Architecture and Setting
The castle is a neoclassical château with a U-shaped floor plan, surrounded by forests and ponds. It is situated away from the main road, largely hidden by thick forest, and is accessible via a bridge crossing a wide moat. The structure features symmetrical facades, evenly spaced windows, and refined brickwork.
Location
- Address: Route de Frasnes 243, 7812 Ath, Belgium
- Coordinates: 50°38′28″N 3°41′35″E
See Also
- List of castles in Belgium
