Hex Castle

Heers, Belgium

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Hex Castle in Heers, Belgium, is an 18th-century château built in the 1770s by the Prince-Bishop of Liège, Franz Karl (Karel) Count of Velbrück, who was a humanist and nature lover.

Designed by the Liège architect Etienne Fayen, the castle features a U-shaped red brick structure with window frames made from Namur limestone and a mansard roof, embodying the Enlightenment ideals of harmony and elegance. Surrounding the castle are extensive gardens, including formal French-style gardens, a terraced kitchen garden, a rare Chinese garden with an 18th-century Buddha statue, and a famous rose garden with around 250 varieties. The castle's landscaped park is inspired by English garden design and was further developed in the 19th century.

Today, the estate remains privately owned by the d'Ursel family, who maintain and restore the gardens, which are open to the public on select weekends during the summer. The site reflects a combination of 18th-century elegance, natural beauty, historical botanical collections, and continues to be a significant cultural landmark in the region.