Castle Hex

Hekslaan 1, Heers Heks
In 1770, architect Etienne Fayn built one of the most beautiful style castles in Belgium in the tiny Limburg village of Heks, commissioned by Count Franz Karl von Velbrück (Liège prince-bishop). It is a U-shaped complex in the new French regency style of rococo, surrounded by a vegetable garden and a French garden with an exceptional rose collection. The garden includes a unique collection of old and botanical rose varieties and was declared the most beautiful rose garden in the world by the International Rose Federation in 1998. The garden mainly features old and botanical species collected by the late Countess Michel d'Ursel and von Velbrück himself, who imported rose bushes from China in the 18th century. The oldest and most unique specimens date from that period. Today, not only about 250 species bloom at Hex, but also a special variety developed for the countess by Louis Lens in 1994. The remaining hills form an English park, where the landscape appears 'wild', but it is not at all, except for two 800-year-old oaks. Twice a year, the public also has access during the open and rose days: visitors can then access the formal gardens (5 ha), the vegetable gardens, and the landscape park (60 ha). The vegetable garden includes a large variety of fruits and vegetables, which, just like in the past, are stored in a vegetable cellar. A visit to the gardens requires approximately 2 hours.

Open: Plant, rose, and vegetable garden festival every second weekend in June (Fri./Sat./Sun.) / every second weekend in September (Sat./Sun.)
Admission price for plant festivals: €7.50 per person incl. parking / members of garden associations €5.00 / children under 16 free under supervision, dogs not allowed
Groups: €8.00 per person min. 20 people / max 35 people per group (only on weekdays and after written request)

Plant, rose, and vegetable garden festival every second weekend in June (Fri./Sat./Sun.) / every second weekend in September (Sat./Sun.)

GROUPS on weekdays with a guide (N., F., D., E.) after written request.

Norjega