Genoels-Elderen Castle

Wijnkasteel Genoels-Elderen (Genoels-Elderen Wine Castle) is a historic castle in Genoelselderen, a village within the municipality of Riemst in Belgium's Limburg province. It holds a unique place among Belgian heritage sites — a medieval residence that since 1991 has doubled as the country's first and only true wine castle, pairing centuries-old architecture with active winemaking.

How old is the castle and who built it?

The first castle on this site was built in 1265 for Godenoel van Elderen. At the time, it ranked as the most important stronghold in the Haspengouw region and one of the key castles within the County of Loon. Its early history was turbulent: in 1407, troops from Tongeren burned the castle to the ground. It was rebuilt by Godenoel IV van Elderen, who raised a new residence for the family on the same site.

Which families owned the castle over the centuries?

The estate remained in the hands of the van Elderen family until 1718. This noble lineage's most notable member was Johan Lodewijk van Elderen, who served as Prince-Bishop of Liège in the seventeenth century. After the van Elderen line ended, ownership passed to the d'Oyembrugge family, and from 1754 to the De Borchgrave family. It was Count Michel-Walrame de Borchgrave who carried out a major restoration of the castle at the end of the eighteenth century, giving the building much of the appearance it retains today.

Why is it called a "wine castle"?

The name Wijnkasteel — literally "wine castle" — reflects a tradition stretching back much further than the current vineyard. The first traces of viticulture in this area date to Roman times, as the surrounding Haspengouw hills, with their limestone-rich soil, lie along the route of the old Via Belgica and have long favored grape growing. That tradition was revived in 1991, when the van Rennes family took over the estate and planted vines here, restoring large-scale wine production to Belgium after centuries of dormancy.

What can visitors see on the castle grounds today?

The estate today combines extensive vineyards surrounding the main building with a rose garden, a distillery, a press house, and cellars dating back to the thirteenth century — tracing directly to the original 1265 structure. This mix gives Genoels-Elderen a distinctive character, where medieval defensive architecture meets the layout of a French-style vineyard estate.

Where is Genoelselderen and how do you get there?

The castle sits in Genoelselderen, a village belonging to the municipality of Riemst in Limburg province, close to the Dutch border and near Tongeren, one of Belgium's oldest towns. The surrounding Haspengouw region is known for its gently rolling hills, fruit orchards, and cycling routes, making the castle grounds a natural stop for visitors combining local history with a rural landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Can Genoels-Elderen Castle be visited? The estate, including its vineyard and gardens, is open to visitors as part of its winery operations and tastings.

Why is it called a wine castle? Because since 1991 it has hosted Belgium's first and only estate of this kind, reviving a viticultural tradition that traces back to Roman times in the region.

How old is the castle? The original structure dates to 1265; after being burned down in 1407 it was rebuilt, and its present appearance largely reflects a restoration carried out at the end of the eighteenth century.

Who owned the castle historically? For more than 450 years, until 1718, it belonged to the van Elderen family, then passed to the d'Oyembrugge family, and from 1754 to the De Borchgrave family.