Château Noisy | Miranda — Abandoned Castle in Belgium

Hidden in the heart of the Houyet woods, the Château de Noisy—also known as Miranda—was immediately striking, with its 220-foot tower piercing through the trees. Built in 1866 for the Liedekerke-Beaufort family, this neo-Gothic giant was truly imposing. But once inside, the contrast was brutal.

The grand staircase in the entrance hall was disappearing under piles of rubble. Looking up at the blue-painted pointed vaults, you could still imagine the era when the SNCB turned it into a summer camp after the war. For years, the ‘Home de Noisy’ echoed with the laughter of hundreds of children.

However, at the time of our visit, the building was nothing more than an empty shell, abandoned since 1991. The wind whistled through massive broken windows, illuminating rooms ravaged by humidity, dry rot, and graffiti. Exploration was risky: rotting floors gave way underfoot, fireplaces were gutted, and ceilings were collapsing.

Visiting Noisy was like watching a masterpiece slowly crumble away. Today, the site has vanished from the landscape forever. Deemed beyond repair and far too dangerous, the castle was completely demolished in late 2017. Only our photos remain as a witness to what it once was.