Whispers of duchesses and treaties echo within these walls. Welcome to the Ch\u00e2teau de Val Duchesse. This ch\u00e2teau in Auderghem holds centuries of secrets. It stands on land once belonging to a priory. The Belgian Royal Trust owns it now.
In 1262, Adelaide of Burgundy founded a priory here. She was the Duchess of Brabant and widow of Henry III. Adelaide’s title gave the ch\u00e2teau its name. Val-Duchesse means “Valley of the Duchess”. Legend says Saint Thomas Aquinas inspired Aleydis. The priory was the first for women in the Low Countries. They followed the rules of Saint Dominic. Aleydis and other noble ladies donated generously. Aleydis’ heart was buried in a mausoleum here.
The priory prospered thanks to royal and noble gifts. In 1650, a wall was built to protect the buildings. The ch\u00e2teau we see today was built in 1780. It served as a residence for the prioress.
But religious conflict brought devastation. Buildings suffered damage in 1562. They were pillaged and burned. In 1566 and again in 1578, around sixty sisters had to flee. They sought refuge in Brussels.
A period of peace began in 1713. Val Duchesse regained some prosperity. However, Emperor Joseph II ordered the convent closed in May 1782. The French Revolution in 1789 led to its total destruction.
Fast forward to 1903. Charles Dietrich purchased the Val Duchesse estate. He transformed it into a magnificent residence. Dietrich restored and enlarged the ch\u00e2teau in Louis XVI style. With architect Louis Breydel, he created a beautiful park. In 1930, Charles Dietrich donated the estate to the Royal Trust.
The Ch\u00e2teau de Val Duchesse has witnessed pivotal moments. After World War II, it became a negotiation venue. In 1956, Paul Henri Spaak led the Intergovernmental Conference here. They prepared the Treaties of Rome. These treaties established the European Economic Community and Euratom. The first formal meeting of the Hallstein Commission took place here in 1958. Walter Hallstein presided over this first European Commission.
The current ch\u00e2teau displays various architectural styles. The south wing from 1780 is in Louis XVI style. It may be a remnant of the old priory. Marie-C\u00e9cile de Neufforge initiated its construction. Inside, the hall features marble. Green marble from Aosta mixes with white Carrara and pink Portuguese marble.
The gilded salon reflects Louis XVI inspiration. It bears the monograms of Charles Dietrich and Edmond de Vigne. The Dutch room features blue Delft ceramic tiles. Its stained-glass windows illustrate sayings by Jacobs Cats. Charles Dietrich’s library is in Flemish neo-Renaissance style. Wall hangings depict themes of fortune. They allude to his work as a financier.
The chimney hood bears stars. It reads “Posteo non sequor”. Dietrich received a baronial title after his donation. His motto meant: “I come after, but I do not follow”.
The Flemish Hall has oak paneling. Stained-glass windows depict fables by La Fontaine. A sculpted arch separates it from the Gothic salon. Architect Edmond De Vigne planned this space as a billiard room.
In 1956 and 1957, the Royal Trust made the Ch\u00e2teau de Val Duchesse available. It hosted the Intergovernmental Conference on the Common Market and Euratom. Negotiators came from France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. These meetings shaped the European Union’s creation. Paul-Henri Spaak, then Belgium’s Foreign Minister, presided. The meetings produced the Treaties of Rome. They established the European Economic Community and Euratom. Thus, the Ch\u00e2teau de Val Duchesse stands as a symbol. It marks the birthplace of the European Union.