Belgium · Still standing
Anvaing Castle
Anvaing Castle (Château d'Anvaing or Château de Lannoy) is a historic brick residence in the village of Anvaing, Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium, on a site occupied since at least 1127. The present ensemble reflects major reconstructions (notably 1561 and c.1800) and remained a private de Lannoy family seat; it was used as a headquarters during the 1940 Belgian capitulation.
First raised
1127
Its prime
1800
Today
Still standing
As it stood in 1800
What Anvaing Castle looked like in its prime.
A compact rectangular brick château with stone banding and corner towers capped by steep slate conical roofs with metal finials; the main block rises three to four storeys with tall rectangular windows rhythmically set in the façades. The building sits directly on a broad water moat or pond, its stone plinth meeting the waterline, and is approached by a low arched stone bridge; mature trees frame the château and reflect in the water.
Its story
The story of Anvaing Castle.
A castle has stood at Anvaing since the time of the First Crusade, first referenced in 1127, though little is documented of the buildings before the reconstructions of 1561 and around 1800. The early owners were apparently the Roubaix family, judging from the arms on an early part of the building, and later the de Lannoy family, whose descendants still own it — Stéphanie, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, born a de Lannoy, grew up in the castle.
The château is chiefly notable as the place where the Belgian capitulation was signed on 28 May 1940, during the Battle of the Lys, when it served as headquarters of the German 6th Army. General Olivier Derousseaux and Commandant Liagre were received by General Walther von Reichenau and Major-General Friedrich Paulus, and the surrender became effective at 10:00 am. In celebration a German officer fired a gunshot into the dining-room ceiling — the mark is still there.
Step inside
5 places to explore in 1800.
The record describes 5 distinct spots at Anvaing Castle — including 1 interior: dining room (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Anvaing Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1800 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held Anvaing Castle.
The families that held Anvaing Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
de Lannoy
The de Lannoy family have held Anvaing, and their descendants own the castle still.
