Belgian Royal Residences

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

A look inside one of the greenhouses, how wonderfull it must smell! (and they're never short of flowers :))

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

King Baudouin in the park of Laeken

http://pro.corbis.com/images/0000344243-01...c-95237609a770}

Fishing for carp in the lakes of Laeken

http://pro.corbis.com/images/0000344243-00...e-4068580ca20f}

Baudouin and Fabiola in the garden

http://pro.corbis.com/images/0000258348-00...2-37bb4936060d}

A king later...Albert & Paola in one of the greenhouses

http://pro.corbis.com/images/0000321209-00...f-6470746aa791}

[Hannelore]

The castle of Laken

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Argenteuil, where Leopld III and the family he had with Lilian used to live, is still for sale. It will be sold to a private buyer (so if anyone's interested... ), at this link you can see lots of photos of the castle, the park and the interior:

http://www.buildingsagency.be/realis..._nl.cfm?key=64

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

Why are they selling?

[Hannelore]

It belongs to the state, it was lent to Leopold and Lilian by the state, so after Lilian's death it went back.

But after Leopold died in 1983 Lilian sort of let it crumble down. She didn't want to touch anything anymore, and leave everything as it was when her husband died. Which was pretty stupid because now, 20 years later there's a lot to be repared and restaured. The costs have got so high, that the Belgian state doesn't want to pay it, and has decided to sell the estate.

(BTW it was built somewhere in the 1920's by a rich American).

[saxon]

The Royal Palace in Brussels is quite an Impressive building, both inside and out does anyone know where I could find a Floor Plan of the Palace?.......

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

This is villa Clementine in Tervuren (near Brussels), where Laurent, Claire and baby Louise live.

[ally_cooper]

Are this residences open to the public?

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

During the summer months you can visit the palace of Brussels for free.

The places where the RF lives (Belvédère, Schonenberg, Stuyvenberg, villa Clémentine, the castle of Ciergnon where they often spend the weekend), are not open fotr visit of course.

The castle of Laeken is the home of the dukes of Brabant, but also used for formal occasions.

[DKgirls]

We saw a Danish program this week, where they were looking at houses in France. The real estate developer kept on mentioning that the Royal family of Belgium had a house in the area(near Cannes)!

So we were wondering if anybody has any pictures of that?

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

The castle of Laeken. Home of Philippe & Mathilde.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Cathérine Bergeyck

It's a small house that queen Astrid had made for her children to play in.
It was recently renovated, and now it's being used by queen Astrid's great grandchildren!!

Sounds like Astrid was inspired by the playhouse she and her sisters and brother had in Sweden. I know that Crown Princess Märtha had a similar play-house, though I doubt it was as fancy as this, put up for her children to play in, as she had done when she was a little girl.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

The palace of Brussels: most members of the RF have their office here. It's also used for official occasions. Nobody lives here.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

The castle of Laeken, where Philippe & Mathilde live.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

They've got quite an impressive home...Here are some pictures of the orangerie in the park of their castle

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

And their are of course the royal greenhouses of Laeken

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

In the park of Laeken (160 hectares), there are also a Japanse tower and a Chinese pavilion and house, built on request of king Leopold II.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

the home of Astrid and Lorenz: Schonenberg

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Philippe & Mathilde in front of their home, the castle of Laeken.