HISTORY OF THE CASTLE



Blier. Historical pictures
Castle of Blier. Historical pictures and postal cards.

The oldest part of the Blier castle (actually the farm) was built around 1500 by the ‘de Blier’ family, who lived there until halfway through the 19th century. The coat of arms of this Blier family still hangs above the castle entrance. It seems that the famous French actor ‘Bernard Blier’ came from this family.

Around 1870, Auguste Seny, heir to the de Blier family, built the ‘Petit Château de Blier’. In 1882, the château was sold (as a holiday home) to the Wilmart family from Liège.The first-born son, Charles Wilmart, went to live in the chateau and, as he had eight children, built the’Grand Chateau’ between 1890 and 1905. Charles Wilmart was provincial administrator and mayor of Amonines. He died, at the chateau, on 18 September 1932. Four of Charles Wilmart’s sons fought in the First World War. The sons sold the castle of Blier in 1935 to Fernand de Ghoÿ, the president of the Special Education of Belgium. The portraits hanging in the billiard room of the Grand Chateau are of Fernand de Ghoÿ and his wife.

During the Battle of the Bulge (World War II, December 1944 – February 1945), the castle became the headquarters of US troops: it is said that General Patton stayed in the castle for several days.

In 1960, the castle became the property of a Flemish mutual society (social fund), which used it to organise holidays for children. The farm was sold to a farmer. In 1997, the Van Dessel family bought the castle to operate it as a holiday home.

In 2023, Blier Castle was bought by new owners who carried out a series of renovations to continuously improve the quality without changing the castle’s charm, style and soul.

Castle of Blier. Main entrance.
Castle of Blier. Picture of the orignal main entrance.