Castle Argenteuil, Waterloo

[Elspeth]

Does anybody have pictures of Argenteuil? I can't find any.

[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).

[Marengo]

I wonder if Argenteuil has been sold already and if so, to whom?

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Argenteuil was sold in 2004 to Jean-Marie Delwart to house an ecological project.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Argenteuil, in neglected state, is for sale again.

It was property of the Belgian Railways and the State offered it to King Leopold. After his death the domain was sold. Why was Leopold not offered one of the many properties of the Donation Royale? Why had the state to do this?

https://m.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/k...den~ac6959f34/

[Nico]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Argenteuil, in neglected state, is for sale again.

It was property of the Belgian Railways and the State offered it to King Leopold. After his death the domain was sold. Why was Leopold not offered one of the many properties of the Donation Royale? Why had the state to do this?

https://m.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/k...den~ac6959f34/

Argenteuil was only sold in 2004 after Lilian's death (2002).
The story goes that back in 1959 LIlian and Leopold systematically refused any proposition of moving from Laeken. A project of a new palace built on the grounds of the royal estate was even considered.
Argenteuil was originally thought as a possible residence for Prince Charles, but at the end Leopold, and especially Lilian, found the property, unlike some other residences of the Donation, grand enough to welcome them (after some extensive work done though).
By 1960 and the rift with Baudouin and Fabiola, access to the other royal residences were restricted for Leopold III as well (even Ciergnon).

[An Ard Ri]

One can imagine what it looked like as a royal residence ,shame its in such a poor state.

[Nico]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

One can imagine what it looked like as a royal residence ,shame its in such a poor state.

The photos from the article above were taken in 2004. The castle was renovated by the current seller.

[maria-olivia]

Jean Marie Delwart renovated completely Argenteuil in 2004.
At the back of the House , you can see the Princess had a Glycine ? from Laeken and the tree was at the end of the Princess's life in the House !.
I visited the Castle privately last year with a Group of the Chapelle Reine Elisabeth. Our Guide , the owner himself, said that it was impossible for his Children to take over Argenteuil and that he was not working anymore was a lot abroad.
I was told he asks 20.000 million of euros.

[Duc_et_Pair]

It remains remarkable that the State did offer Argenteuil to King Leopold. Apparently the Government (custodian of the Donation Royale) was not able to offer Stuyvenberg, Belvédère, Ciergnon, Fenffe, Clémentine, Villers-sur-Lesse, Hertoginnedal or other domains from the Donation to the former King.

[Nico]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

It remains remarkable that the State did offer Argenteuil to King Leopold. Apparently the Government (custodian of the Donation Royale) was not able to offer Stuyvenberg, Belvédère, Ciergnon, Fenffe, Clémentine, Villers-sur-Lesse, Hertoginnedal or other domains from the Donation to the former King.

As stated above, on one side Leopold and Lilian were not particulary cooperative, and on the other the State (and soon Baudoin) considered the former King and his family as outcasts ...

[Duc_et_Pair]

I understand. It seems the King and Princess Lilian had a chronic insufficient budget and were forced to sell hundreds objets d'art to make ends meet. They were not so precize in whose property they sold: from themselves, from the Donation, from the State. When it was too obvious, Mr Herman Liebaers, Grand Maréchal du Cour, stepped in and tried to convince the former King to withdraw the items from auction. I have no idea if the former King (and his brother Prince Charles) were given a dotation, but their incomes were not sufficient, so to see. Both have had financial problems.


https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/leopo...w.google.nl%2F

[Marengo]

Some photos of Argenteuil after the renovation can be seen on Sotheby's:


https://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/s...terloo-wa-1410

[Marengo]

A video of the domaine by Sotheby's:

https://vimeo.com/468582675?ref=fb-share

[maria-olivia]

When Princess Lilian passed away Prince Alexandre and Princess Alexandra had to sell all its items because Princess Marie Christine wanted nothing but only money, money.
To day she turns 70 not in a good health and in money need.