Le Château de Seneffe

"GOOD CONTENT"#architecture #castle
Seneffe Castle, located in Seneffe, Belgium, in the province of Hainaut, is an 18th-century castle that houses the French Community's Goldsmith Museum.
The neoclassical-style castle was built between 1763 and 1768 for businessman Julien Depestre, based on plans by architect Laurent-Benoît Dewez. The sumptuous château was a visible sign of his social success. Depestre closely monitored the construction and asked Dewez to modify the plans when he deemed appropriate. He died in 1774, and his widow, Isabelle Cogels, continued the project, modifying certain elements to conform the building to her own tastes. Their eldest son, Joseph Depestre, shared his parents' interest in the estate. He entrusted the design of the park to architect Charles De Wailly and sculptor Augustin Pajou. He endowed the park with an orangery and a theater and had the niches of the galleries in the main courtyard decorated with statues.
Unfortunately, he made poor business deals and took refuge abroad. In 1798, with the Austrian Netherlands reunited with the French Republic, the estate was confiscated by the government, which put it up for sale. It was purchased by Joseph's younger brother, Jean-Baptiste Depestre de la Ferté. Upon his death in 1802, Joseph, who greatly valued the château, reached an agreement with his sister-in-law and obtained the right to reside in Seneffe, which he restored. Upon his death in 1823, the château reverted to Jean-Baptiste's son, Honoré Depestre de la Ferté. The latter squandered his assets and was forced to put the château up for sale in 1837.
Alexandre Daminet, a coal mine owner, purchased it. The château was then in such a state of disrepair that some ceilings had collapsed. Daminet undertook a thorough restoration, installing central heating and repainting the château. Some painted decorations dating from this period were preserved. The château was then taken over by his daughter Valérie and her husband, the Count of Pellan. The economic crisis of 1873 brought ruin to their lives, and they were forced to sell the estate, which passed for a few years into the hands of Baroness Goffinet. She allowed it to deteriorate again. Upon her death, the château was jointly owned. Sold in 1909, it was bought by a Jewish banker of German origin, Franz Philippson. This man of enlightened taste restored the château to its former glory. He had the park partially redesigned by the landscape architect Jules Vacherot. The castle remained the Philippson family home until 1939. Occupied during the Second World War by General von Falkenhausen, it was then purchased by a Franciscan community, which neglected its upkeep. It was purchased in 1963 by a property dealer who also abandoned it, despite its listing on December 24, 1958. Public opinion was outraged, and the Belgian state acquired it in 1969, following expropriation proceedings. In 1980, it became the property of the Ministry of the French Community of Belgium, which decided to house a museum of French Community goldsmithing there, the core of which was the collection of Claude and Juliette D'Allemagne, following a donation.