Château Miranda, also known as Château de Noisy, was a neo-Gothic castle located in Celles, Belgium. It became famous for its striking architecture, eerie abandonment, and tragic decline. The castle stood as a symbol of faded grandeur, attracting explorers, photographers, and paranormal enthusiasts before its demolition in 2017.
History and Construction
Commissioned in 1866, Château Miranda was built by the wealthy Liedekerke-Beaufort family, who were Belgian aristocrats. After fleeing their nearby Château de Vêves during the French Revolution, the family decided to commission a new residence in the Forest of Ardennes. The castle was designed by the English architect Edward Milner in a neo-Gothic style, featuring turrets, spires, pointed arches, and elaborate stonework. Milner passed away before its completion, but the project was finished by 1907 under the guidance of the Liedekerke-Beaufort family. Château Miranda was located on a hill surrounded by dense forests, giving it a secluded and majestic appearance.
World War II and Aftermath
During World War II, the castle was occupied by German forces. It was later seized by the Belgian state, and like many large estates, it was repurposed for public use in the post-war period. After the war, Château Miranda became a children’s orphanage and summer camp run by the National Railway Company of Belgium. It was renamed Château de Noisy and was used to house children, often orphans or the children of railway workers. Many Belgians have memories of their childhood visits to the castle.
Abandonment and Decline
By the late 1980s, the upkeep of Château Miranda had become too expensive, and it was abandoned in 1991. The Liedekerke-Beaufort family reclaimed ownership of the property but refused offers to restore it or repurpose it for public use, likely due to the high cost of renovation. After its abandonment, the castle fell into ruin. Harsh weather conditions, vandalism, and neglect led to significant structural damage. The once-grand castle became an iconic symbol of dereliction and decay, with collapsed roofs, shattered windows, and overgrown vegetation.
Cultural and Paranormal Fame
Château Miranda became a hotspot for urban explorers, photographers, and film crews. Its dilapidated state, combined with its Gothic architecture, gave it a haunting and atmospheric appearance that made it an ideal location for those seeking eerie and abandoned places.
Over the years, many stories of paranormal activity began to circulate around Château Miranda. The fact that it once housed orphans, combined with its decayed state, contributed to rumors of hauntings. It became a popular site for paranormal investigators and thrill-seekers.
Many photographers and artists documented the castle’s slow decay. Its long, empty corridors, crumbling staircases, and broken stained-glass windows made for haunting and dramatic imagery.
Demolition and Controversy
Despite widespread interest in preserving Château Miranda, the cost of restoring the structure was deemed prohibitive. The Liedekerke-Beaufort family made the decision to demolish the castle, and demolition began in 2016. By 2017, the once-majestic structure had been completely destroyed.
The demolition sparked significant backlash from preservationists and urban exploration communities, who saw the castle as an important historical and cultural landmark. Many argued that it could have been saved and repurposed, but without government funding or private investment, the castle’s fate was sealed.
Legacy
Château Miranda was known for its striking neo-Gothic design, with its most notable features being the massive central clock tower and its many turrets and spires. Even in its ruined state, its architecture continued to captivate people.
Over the years, the castle became a symbol of both lost grandeur and the inevitable decay of abandoned buildings. For many, it represented the fragility of human creations, as something once so magnificent was reduced to rubble.
Though the castle no longer stands, it lives on through countless photographs, videos, and artworks that captured its beauty and haunting atmosphere before and during its decay.
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