User Reviews
Tillegem Castle, lies south of the city of Bruges. The present castle originally dates back to the 12th or 13th century when it was owned by Lord Jan van Voormezele. It was built as a square moated castle, flanked by square corner towers.
During the next centuries the castle was owned by numerous rich families from Bruges, who rebuilt it several times, maybe due to wartime damages but also to make it more comfortable.
In 1879 Tillegem Castle was acquired by Baron Eugène Charles de Peñaranda de Franchimont. He had the castle rebuilt to its present appearance in Flemish Gothic Revival style by the architect Jean-Baptiste de Béthune.
The castle was privately inhabited until 1980. After that, it went to the provincial government. The castle was subsequently restored and made suitable for offices.
References:The Château de Chantilly comprises two attached buildings: the Petit Château built around 1560 for Anne de Montmorency, and the Grand Château, which was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in the 1870s. Owned by the Institut de France, the château houses the Musée Condé. It is one of the finest art galleries in France and is open to the public.
The estate"s connection with the Montmorency family began in 1484. The first mansion (now replaced by the Grand Château) was built in 1528–1531 for the Constable Anne de Montmorency by Pierre Chambiges. The Petit Château was also built for him, around 1560, probably by Jean Bullant. In 1632, after the death of Henri II, it passed to the Grand Condé who inherited it through his mother, Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency.
Several interesting pieces of history are associated with the château during the 17th century.