Château de Franc-Waret

It’s tax day in the US today and while some of you are running around trying to beat the deadline, I’m also running around like a glutton for punishment. Because yes, to get to visit another castle–this time it’s a “working” castle, Château de Franc-Waret in Fernelmont, Belgium--I’d have to cross through lots of fields and gardens in all their green splendor, full of pollen.

Can you imagine being born into such an estate? Yes, it’s good to be royalty by chance but not so great to bear the burden of maintaining a place like this!

But that’s probably why this is a working castle. It’s used for large events and for filming. There's a wing that houses a large restaurant to cater any function, near a more recently constructed addition to hold parties.

Those two puppies in the first photo were only a couple I could catch out of a litter of 3 (and their mommy made 4) with my camera. One had a broken front paw, but he barked the loudest to make up for his deficit. He also enjoyed the belly rub the most :D. They were all scurrying around the property with the groundsmen, enjoying the fresh cut lawn and even the water around the moat.

I don’t know about you, but I think I’d rather be one of these puppies than a modern royalty who inherited the tax bill on this place!

April 15, 2011