Farciennes Castle

Vallonien – provinsen Hainaut · Belgien · Castle ruin

When the family crypt was opened in 1851, four of the five Batthyány bodies had iron stakes driven through their hearts – the ruin is still called the vampire castle.

The castle of Farciennes on the Sambre, built from 1637, is today a gaping ruin – and the centre of Belgium's strangest vampire legend. In the 18th century it was home to the Hungarian Batthyány family, said in popular lore to be related to Vlad III of Wallachia, the model for Dracula. Between 1724 and 1742 five family members died, including three children, and when their burial chapel at Tergnée was demolished in 1851 a macabre discovery was made: four of the bodies had half-metre iron stakes driven through their hearts. The ruin has been known as the vampire castle ever since, and urban explorers describe it as one of the country's most ominous places.

FAQ

Where is Farciennes Castle located?

Farciennes Castle is in Vallonien – provinsen Hainaut, Belgien.