Saint-Hubert, BelgiumMirwart
Château de Mirwart
Restored Ardennes fortress
Mirwart Saint-Hubert, Belgium
Opened
2021
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Design WellnessOutside the door
Restored Ardennes fortress
The thousand-year-old fortress crowns a rocky bluff above the river Lomme, rebuilt from ruin into an intimate forest hotel.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A classified medieval fortress above the Lomme, restored from centuries of aristocratic ruin.
Notable
Custom minimalist furniture set against original timber beams and thick medieval stone masonry.
Notable
Salt-water pools and saunas carved into the fortress's thirteenth-century stone rainwater cisterns.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
For sheer picturesque drama, the Château de Mirwart, built on a shelf of rock above the river Lomme, is up there with any of them.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
On a rocky promontory above the Lomme river valley, surrounded by the Mirwart forest domain.
The rooms
Suites inside the castle keep their original timbered ceilings and medieval stonework, looking out over the wooded Lomme valley.
The water
Bring a swimsuit.
The pool and saunas
An outdoor infinity pool looks out across the forest domain. Two saunas and two hot tubs face the valley.
Salon Bleu Bar and Lounge
Blue velvet armchairs sit beneath preserved eighteenth-century wall paintings, beside a central bar counter in hammered tin.
At the table
L’Ecrin de Mirwart serves seasonal Ardennes game and river trout beside carved marble fireplaces and tall windows.
How it began
The fortress stood abandoned from 1975 until Belgian architect John Eyers bought the ruin in 2015, beginning a six-year restoration.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.