Conservation Hex

Kasteel Hex is an 18th-century Rococo house nestled in the picturesque region of Hesbaye, Belgium. Commissioned by the Prince-Bishop of Liège, Franz Karl, Count von Velbrück (1719-1784) in 1770, who was inspired by the natural beauty of the site, transforming it into a little paradise.

 

For the execution of his project, Velbrück enlisted the finest artisans from Liège, France, and Italy.

The opulent interiors reflect Louis XV and Louis XVI aesthetics, with Chinese-inspired decorations and Masonic stucco symbols in some rooms. The Prince-Bishop ardently promoted the ideals of freedom, equality, and fraternity. Consequently, he is remembered as an enlightened ruler.

 

As a humanist and nature-lover, Velbrück surrounded the castle with meticulously landscaped French gardens, including a Chinese garden, a vegetable garden, and a rose garden. A 60-hectare English park characterized by its undulating terrain and diverse flora surround the house.

 

Hex is renowned for its rose collection, from the oldest rose species that Prince-Bishop von Velbrück imported from China through the East India Companies in the 18th century, to the collection of rare and unique roses curated by Countess Nanda d'Ursel, and to the latest creations by the world's most renowned rose breeders today.

There are an estimated 500 different rose varieties scattered throughout the gardens surrounding the house. These beautiful gardens earned praise from Gardening Columnist Robin Lane Fox in the Financial Times Weekend on September 22, 2023.

 

Succeeding generations have protected and promoted the authentic 18th-century design of Hex, making it one of Belgium’s best-preserved historical monuments.