Château de Beaumont

The Château de Beaumont (French: Château de Beaumont or Dutch: Kasteel van Beaumont) was a castle in Beaumont, Belgium. In the 15th century, it became the main seat of the House of Croÿ, dukes of Aarschot. They turned the castle fortress into a palatial renaissance structure of unparalleled luxury and magnificence. The palace had its heyday under prince-duke Charles III de Croÿ, an avid collector, who filled its halls and galleries with an outstanding art collection. In 1655, the castle was destroyed by the French army of Turenne. Nowadays, only one tower remains of the complex, the Salamander tower (French: Tour Salamandre or Dutch: Salamandertoren). It is opened to the public and tells the story of a bygone time.