Tillegem Castle

Bruges, Belgium

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:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1879
Category: Castles and fortifications in Belgium

More Information

www.castles.nl

User Reviews

Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Sé Catedral (Cathedral of Lisbon)

The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major, often called Lisbon Cathedral or simply the Sé, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Lisbon, Portugal. The oldest church in the city, it is the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. The cathedral has survived many earthquakes and has been modified, renovated and restored several times. It is nowadays a mix of different architectural styles. 

The site where it stands was the principal mosque of Lisbon when it was an Arab settlement. The construction of the cathedral started around 1150, three years after the city was conquered from the Moors during the Second Crusade. Shortly after the victory the English knight Gilbert of Hastings was named bishop of the city of Lisbon.

One good reason to visit the Cathedral is to visit its charming cloisters located in the back. There are several tombs in the cathedral, the most notable of which is the beautifully sculpted tomb of Lopo Fernandes Pacheco and his wife.