Château de Graaf

Château de Graaf, also known as Streversdorp Castle, is a medieval fortress standing southwest of Montzen, in the municipality of Plombières, in the province of Liège in eastern Belgium. Local legend pushes its origins back to the year 915, but the documented history starts in the 13th century, when the Triversdorp family built the stronghold — the first recorded owner, in 1275, was a certain Egidius de Triversdorp.

Where does the name "Graaf" come from?

The castle's formal name is Streversdorp, yet locally it is far better known as Château de Graaf, a name tied to the title held by one of its most notable owners. Caspar Anton von der Heyden, called Belderbusch, was granted the title of Reichsgraf — Count of the Empire — in 1782. The Belderbusch family held the estate for nearly three centuries, from 1530 to 1810, and it is their tenure that gave rise to the name still used today.

How was the castle expanded over time?

At the heart of the complex stands a rectangular 13th-century keep, still recognisable today in the middle of the eastern walls, with a striking vaulted hall preserved inside. During the 15th and 16th centuries the stronghold was enlarged with new wings arranged around a small courtyard, along with corner towers — including two raised in the 16th century at the southwest and northwest corners. This expansion gave the castle its distinctive, roughly square footprint. The walls are 1.5 metres thick, and the whole ensemble is surrounded by a wide moat fed by two ponds.

Who owned the castle through the centuries?

The ownership history of Château de Graaf is a story of several noble families shaping its appearance and fate over hundreds of years. After the Horrick family, who held it from 1431 to 1530, the estate passed to the Belderbusch family (1530–1810). It was then owned by the Thiriart family (1810–1908), followed by the Charles Janne Dothée family, until 1986. Each change of ownership typically brought further building work and adjustments to the structure, a pattern common to centuries-old noble residences in this region.

What heritage protection does the site have?

Château de Graaf was granted heritage protection on 12 November 1954, confirming its significance as a defensive architectural monument of the Pays de Herve region and eastern Belgium. It remains private property, however, and is not open to visitors — it can only be admired from the outside, most often during walking or cycling trips around Montzen.

Frequently asked questions

Are Château de Graaf and Streversdorp Castle the same building? Yes. Streversdorp is the historical, official name of the castle, while Château de Graaf is the popular name, referring to the countship held by one of its owners from the Belderbusch family.

Can visitors go inside the castle? No. The site is privately owned and closed to the public — only an exterior view, from across the surrounding moat, is possible.

What is the oldest surviving part of the castle? The oldest element is the rectangular 13th-century keep, still visible today in the middle of the eastern wall, with a vaulted hall inside.

Where exactly is the castle located? Southwest of the village of Montzen, in the municipality of Plombières, in the province of Liège, in the German-speaking border area of eastern Belgium.