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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Located in the heart of fifteen hectares of woods between Mons and Nimy, Château de la Cense au Bois was built during the 1860’s after the French Revolution by a wealthy family who resided here until 1984. In 1999 it became a high-class hotel with ten rooms and 20 beds. The owner, Raymond Beck, was as a well-renown baker from Jurbise. The hotel also included a restaurant, “The Gray Osciètre”, overseen by head chef Pierre-Yves Gosse where you could get the luxury meals drink from an extensive wine list. The interior was exquisitely detailed and offered much in the way of comfort. The.
However, with the costs of up-keep of the manor high, early in the new century Raymond Beck moved on to start business ventures elsewhere and Pierre-Yves Gosse (who sadly died earlier this year, aged 52) left to start the 5th Season restaurant in nearby Mons. Although records are sketchy, the Château was in a state of abandoned by 2005 and has gradually gone downhill as the vandals and thieves have done their thing.
Talk of renovations and re-purposing have come and gone since then. Most recently, in 2014, it was mooted that the chateau may be converted into a well-being centre. However, the project that was estimated to create 150 jobs never materialised as it failed to get past the planners and was dropped in 2016. The house is now open to the elements and the only guests the occasional urban explorer, who have dubbed the ex-hotel “Chateau Cinderella” due to its very “princess” feel and its large blue room.
2. The Explore
A bit of residential relief on an otherwise industrial day. Fifth stop on a full day’s exploring. Arrived here a bit later than I wanted to, and the sun was starting to go down. A really curious place. It’s a very nice house and it is very much in the open and access is just a walk in. It’s been explored many a time but there doesn’t appear to be a previous report on here. It’s been smashed up a bit but has escaped complete trashing. As a consequence, it is still very much saveable. Hence, it’s strange that it hasn’t been sold and returned to use as a hotel. The previous hotel and restaurant were very high-class and there are a number of papers scattered around the place that refer back to then. Other than that, the place is pretty empty back the odd broken chair or chest of draws. It’s spread over four floors – five if you count the mini-wine cellar under the main wine cellar. It’s a really shame this lovely house has come to this as the only way is down. It made for a nice and relaxed wander as the sun came down on a busy and successful day of solo exploring in Belgium
3. The Pictures
Into view she comes:
img4233 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Externally, she’s very pleasing on the eye!
img4186 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4232 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Back view:
img4230 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4199 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This canopy is a nice little touch:
img4228 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nice chimney embellishments:
img4227bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
And the railings don’t look like they were gilded too long ago:
img4225 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In we go:
Cinderella 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 19 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4201 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 14 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Decent nick fireplace:
img4194 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And one not so decent nick:
Cinderella 13 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nice moulding detail:
img4195 by HughieDW, on Flickr
View from inside looking out:
img4224 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Up to the first floor and a nice fireplace still in situ:
img4206 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Assorted paperwork:
img4212 by HughieDW, on Flickr
This dating back to 1994:
Cinderella 05 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 05 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And one of the old menus:
img4213 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of the many smashed up bathrooms:
img4207 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And another:
Cinderella 10 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Picture window:
Cinderella 11 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Up to the top floor:
img4205 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4210 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 12 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And then right back down to the kitchen area:
img4222 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img4221 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Wine cellar:
Cinderella 16 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And safe:
Cinderella 17 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Bye-bye Chateau Cinderella:
img4188 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cinderella 22 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Located in the heart of fifteen hectares of woods between Mons and Nimy, Château de la Cense au Bois was built during the 1860’s after the French Revolution by a wealthy family who resided here until 1984. In 1999 it became a high-class hotel with ten rooms and 20 beds. The owner, Raymond Beck, was as a well-renown baker from Jurbise. The hotel also included a restaurant, “The Gray Osciètre”, overseen by head chef Pierre-Yves Gosse where you could get the luxury meals drink from an extensive wine list. The interior was exquisitely detailed and offered much in the way of comfort. The.
However, with the costs of up-keep of the manor high, early in the new century Raymond Beck moved on to start business ventures elsewhere and Pierre-Yves Gosse (who sadly died earlier this year, aged 52) left to start the 5th Season restaurant in nearby Mons. Although records are sketchy, the Château was in a state of abandoned by 2005 and has gradually gone downhill as the vandals and thieves have done their thing.
Talk of renovations and re-purposing have come and gone since then. Most recently, in 2014, it was mooted that the chateau may be converted into a well-being centre. However, the project that was estimated to create 150 jobs never materialised as it failed to get past the planners and was dropped in 2016. The house is now open to the elements and the only guests the occasional urban explorer, who have dubbed the ex-hotel “Chateau Cinderella” due to its very “princess” feel and its large blue room.
2. The Explore
A bit of residential relief on an otherwise industrial day. Fifth stop on a full day’s exploring. Arrived here a bit later than I wanted to, and the sun was starting to go down. A really curious place. It’s a very nice house and it is very much in the open and access is just a walk in. It’s been explored many a time but there doesn’t appear to be a previous report on here. It’s been smashed up a bit but has escaped complete trashing. As a consequence, it is still very much saveable. Hence, it’s strange that it hasn’t been sold and returned to use as a hotel. The previous hotel and restaurant were very high-class and there are a number of papers scattered around the place that refer back to then. Other than that, the place is pretty empty back the odd broken chair or chest of draws. It’s spread over four floors – five if you count the mini-wine cellar under the main wine cellar. It’s a really shame this lovely house has come to this as the only way is down. It made for a nice and relaxed wander as the sun came down on a busy and successful day of solo exploring in Belgium
3. The Pictures
Into view she comes:
img4233 by HughieDW, on FlickrExternally, she’s very pleasing on the eye!
img4186 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4232 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 01 by HughieDW, on FlickrBack view:
img4230 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4199 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 07 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis canopy is a nice little touch:
img4228 by HughieDW, on FlickrNice chimney embellishments:
img4227bw by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd the railings don’t look like they were gilded too long ago:
img4225 by HughieDW, on FlickrIn we go:
Cinderella 02 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 04 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 19 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4201 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 14 by HughieDW, on FlickrDecent nick fireplace:
img4194 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd one not so decent nick:
Cinderella 13 by HughieDW, on FlickrNice moulding detail:
img4195 by HughieDW, on FlickrView from inside looking out:
img4224 by HughieDW, on FlickrUp to the first floor and a nice fireplace still in situ:
img4206 by HughieDW, on FlickrAssorted paperwork:
img4212 by HughieDW, on FlickrThis dating back to 1994:
Cinderella 05 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 05 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd one of the old menus:
img4213 by HughieDW, on FlickrOne of the many smashed up bathrooms:
img4207 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd another:
Cinderella 10 by HughieDW, on FlickrPicture window:
Cinderella 11 by HughieDW, on FlickrUp to the top floor:
img4205 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4210 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 12 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd then right back down to the kitchen area:
img4222 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg4221 by HughieDW, on FlickrWine cellar:
Cinderella 16 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd safe:
Cinderella 17 by HughieDW, on FlickrBye-bye Chateau Cinderella:
img4188 by HughieDW, on FlickrCinderella 22 by HughieDW, on Flickr
. Was wondering where the smoke went from the fireplaces, I assume it went sideways from the grate to the chimney? It is odd seeing fireplaces under windows. Also was the wrought iron circular designs on the chimneys to support the brickwork? As in a rod passing through the chimney to another wrought iron circular design on the other side?
