Medieval castles in Belgium
Ter Leyen Castle
Ter Leyen Castle is surrounded by a moat and a beautiful garden. It was built in the early 15th century as a fortified manor farm. The present appearance is Renaissance style. Today Ter Leyen can be booked for weddings and events.
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Boekhoute, Belgium
Vêves Castle
The Castle of Vêves, close to the village of Celles, is an exceptional heritage site due to the pristine state of preservation of and one of Belgiums the most remarkable examples of late mediaeval military architecture. According to tradition, the site has been occupied by castles since the time of Pippin of Herstal (7th century). In the later Middle Ages, the area fell under control of the Beaufort family, which oversaw ...
Founded: 1410 |
Location:
Houyet, Belgium
Schoten Castle
The water-encircled Schoten castle started as a farm in the 13th century. The first record of farm dates from 1232. In the 15th and 16th centuries it was owned by the family Van Brecht from Breda. They began the construction of the present castle in 1548 and in 1611 the building got its present form. The building was acquired in 1950 by the city of Schoten and in 1955 it was converted into a cultural center.
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Schoten, Belgium
Écaussinnes-Lalaing Castle
In 1184 Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut, built the first castle on the current site in Écaussinnes. The lords of Écaussinnes and their heirs the de Lalaings altered the original structure several times over the centuries. In 1450 Marie de Lalaing married Jean II de Croÿ, descendant of the Counts (later Princes) of Chimay. By a quirk of inheritance, the castle later became the property of the Lalaing family again. They so ...
Founded: 1184 |
Location:
Écaussinnes, Belgium
Beloeil Castle
Belœil château has been the residence of the Prince de Ligne since the 14th century. The château lies in the middle of a magnificent Baroque garden designed in 1664. The château and gardens can be visited during spring and summer. Belœil became possession of the Ligne family in 1394. At the beginning of the 15th century the local castle was chosen as the principal residence of the family. The old castle was a fortif ...
Founded: 1394 |
Location:
Beloeil, Belgium
Ham-sur-Heure Castle
Ham-sur-Heure Castle was first mentioned in the 13th century when it passed, through marriage, to the Condé family. In the 15th century the castle was owned by the d'Enghien family. In 1487, when the last family member died without heirs, the castle went to the De Merode family. In 1540 the castle was visited by Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. Around this time the castle was probably enlarged and strengthened. In 16 ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes, Belgium
Mirwart Castle
Mirwart Castle is built on a rock rising above the Valley of the Lomme. The oldest parts of the castle date back to the 11th century. It was a stronghold belonging to the duchy of Lorraine. The lords of Mirwart had many bloody conflicts with other feudal lords of the region, such as the lords of Bouillon and Orchimont. The lords of Mirwart came into conflict with the monks of the powerful Saint-Hubert Abbey, suppo ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Saint-Hubert, Belgium
Freÿr Castle
The castle of Freÿr with its gardens form one of the most magnificent natural sites in Belgium. It has been classified as one of Wallonia"s major heritage sites. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Freÿr was a keep given in fief by the Count of Namur to Jean de Rochefort Orjol in 1378. His granddaughter Marie married Jacques de Beaufort in 1410. Their descendants have kept the estate until the present. ...
Founded: 1571 |
Location:
Hastière, Belgium
Montaigle Castle Ruins
Montaigle Castle was built in the 14th century, and destroyed by Henry II of France in 1554. It stands on a rocky spur overlooking the valleys of the Molignée and of the Flavion. The site was used during the Late Roman period for a Belgo-Roman fortification. The ruins are open to visitors, convention spaces are also available.
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Onhaye, Belgium
Reinhardstein Castle
Reinhardstein Castle is located in valley of the Warche, in the village of Ovifat in the municipality of Waimes (Weismes). It was built in 1354 for Wenceslaus of Luxembourg, while still Count, by his vassal Reinhard of Weismes. In 1550 following the marriage of Anne Naussau to Guillaume of Metternich, Reinhardstein became the property of this important Rhineland family, until the French Revolution. Abandoned, it f ...
Founded: 1354 |
Location:
Waimes, Belgium
Chimay Castle
Chimay Castle has been owned by the Prince of Chimay and his ancestors for centuries, and it is open to the public for tours during part of the year. Although the castle was significantly damaged by a fire in 1935, the structure was subsequently rebuilt, and renovations continue under the current generation of the princely family. Chimay Castle, the home of the Princes of Chimay for many generations, is an ancient strong ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Chimay, Belgium
Reuland Castle
Reuland Castle in Burg-Reuland, near the border of Germany, was probably built after 1148 by the von Reuland nobles. The castle was sold in 1322 to Count John the Blind and the King of Bohemia. On May 24, 1384, King Wenzel of Luxembourg designated Edmund von Engelsdorf the Secretary of the Treasury of Luxembourg, and donated the Castle and the Reuland Domain to him. The castle"s origins can be traced to th ...
Founded: 1148 |
Location:
Burg-Reuland, Belgium
Rupelmonde Castle Ruins
Rupelmonde Castle was built by the Counts of Flanders in the 12th century directly opposite the mouth of the river Rupel into the Scheldt river to defend these rivers. It was a large fortress with 17 towers circled by a moat. From this castle toll was levied from passing ships. Later on the castle was also used as a state prison. This caused the castle to play a important role in the history of the region. In 1678, when ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Rupelmonde, Belgium
Tavigny Castle
Tavigny Castle dates to th late Middle Ages, and it may have been only a refuge tower that is now the central part of the castle. Its walls are long 10 meters, thick 2 meters and they had plenty of arrow slits. The lordship of Tavigny belonged at first to a family who wore already its name, but in 1360, it was already owned by the Ouren family, a powerful Middle-age family from the dutchy of Luxembourg. The central tower ...
Founded: 11th century |
Location:
Houffalize, Belgium
Cortewalle Castle
Cortewalle Castle dates back to the 15th century, and is one of the oldest in the Waasland. It is built of white sandstone, in Flemish Renaissance style. For centuries it was in the possession successively of the Triest, Goubau and de Brouchoven de Bergeyck families, until the Brouchovens sold it to the municipality of Beveren, who use it for the storage of the extensive and important De Bergeyck archives. Today Cortewal ...
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Beveren, Belgium
Den Dool Castle
In the Middle Ages, Den Dool castle served as a summer residence for the abbots of the Abbey of Sint-Truiden. The first mention is from 1282. Around 1340 the first abbot, Amelius van Schoonvorst, was there as a refugee during the wars of Liège against prince-bishop Engelbert van der Mark. In 1361 the castle and farm were burned down by knight Hendrik van Halbeek. The castle was restored between 1443 to 1470. and again in ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Houthalen, Belgium
Château des comtes de Mouscron
In the 14th century, the Seigneury of Mouscron was eventually sold to a lord of Tournai, and in 1430, the Castle of the Counts (Château des Comtes) became the lord"s manor, which can still be seen today. In 1575, in the middle of the Wars of Religion, the castle was strengthened. It was nevertheless besieged and taken by the Geuzen, locally known as the Hurlus in 1579, before being taken back three months later. ...
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Mouscron, Belgium
Solre-sur-Sambre Castle
Solre-sur-Sambre Castle was built around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries and retains much of the medieval structure. Later in the 14th or 15th century this keep was incorporated in a square castle with circular towers at its four corners. The keep was transformed to a gate tower. It is the property of the Princes de Merode.
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Erquelinnes, Belgium
Laarne Castle
Laarne Castle is a moated castle established in the 11th or 12th century to guard the approaches to Ghent from the sea. It was comprehensively renovated in the 17th century. Today the castle is partly used as a museum displaying a wonderful collection of tapestries, furniture, weapons and silverware. This beautiful castle is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Flanders.
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Laarne, Belgium
Antoing Castle
Antoing Castle is one of Belgium"s most original and well-known castles, situated in Antoing in Hainaut. It was first mentioned in the 12th century. Although the present structure of the castle dates from the 13th and 15th centuries, it was redesigned in Neo-Gothic style in the 19th century by the French architect Viollet-le-Duc. The castle at Antoing first belonged to the powerful Melun family, then passed in 1634 ...
Founded: 13th century |
Location:
Antoing, Belgium