Château Miranda (Château de Noisy)

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Château de Noisy was built in the 19th century as a summer home for the aristocratic Liedekerke-Beaufort family in Celles, Belgium, according to Slate. The English architect Edward Milner was commissioned in 1866 by the family, who fled their home, Château de Vêves, during the French Revolution and took up residence in Belgium in 1792, to design and build the castle on their property in Wallonia, according to Matele.

The castle was built in the Neo-Gothic style that was popular in the 19th century and featured many towers, conical roofs, vaulted ceilings, and approximately 500 windows. It was completed in 1907 after many setbacks in construction, including Milner’s death. French architect Pelchner completed the construction of the house and extended its size largely.

Château Miranda, as it was then known, was a thriving summer escape for the family until World War II struck Europe. The Battle of the Bulge brought German troops to its doorstep when they briefly occupied the home. After the war in 1950 the home was taken over by the National Railway Company of Belgium. It became a holiday camp for children and was renamed Château de Noisy, says documentary photographer David Baker.

In 1990 the family sought out investors to buy the house and convert it into a hotel but were ultimately unsuccessful and it was abandoned in 1991. A fire destroyed part of the roof in 1995, which forced the family to strip the house of all the hardwood floors, marble, and fireplaces. A violent storm in 2006 caused the stable roof to collapse. During this period the home became a hot spot for urban explorers and photographers, and it even attracted a film crew that shot part of the 2011 movie “Dead Man Talking," according to Sudpress.be. Despite the municipality of Celles offering to take control of the property, in December 2013 the family officially filed a request to demolish Château de Noisy.....

Full story here:
http://www.byronhartshorn.com/2017/0...he-reason-why/