Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, Dilbeek, Belgium

Groot-Bijgaarden Castle is 12th-century castle in Groot-Bijgaarden in the municipality of Dilbeek, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. The castle was built for Almaric Bigard, the first lord of Bigard.

The castle is surrounded by a wide moat spanned by a bridge with five arches, leading to the drawbridge. The central part of the gatehouse dates from the 14th century. A four-storey tower (built 1347), 30 metres high, is by the side of the gatehouse. The castle is in the Flemish Renaissance style, with red brick and a slate roof. In 1902, the castle was very dilapidated and Raymond Pelgrims Bigard began renovations that lasted 30 years.

Garden architect Louis Fuchs created the 14 hectare park alongside the castle at the start of the 20th century. The park is open in spring every year since 2003 for an international flower exhibition with tulips from the Netherlands.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Avni Shrivastava (5 months ago)
Awesome Tulips....Bit crowded today due to last day...but varieties of tulips and other flowers are really great. Must visit if you are in Brussels during April and May month. You can book tickets online or can also purchase at the place.

Sowjanya N (5 months ago)
Beautiful festival for eyes. Had great time with family. A colorful day trip in Brussels. I felt very refreshing even after a week.. A must visit place in Spring..??

Monica Marasescu (6 months ago)
Wonderful tulip, daffodil and hyacinth garden with towering trees and round an old castle. Opportunity to buy flower bulbs too. Worth visiting in April-May!

Shanmuga priyan (6 months ago)
Pleasant Tulip garden inside a castle, Entry by tickets only. Vast garden with variety of tulips blossoming during Apr to May period. Garden has basic facilities of wash room, a cafeteria.

apostolia gkoulioni (6 months ago)
Nice place, tranquil environment to make a walk surrounded by beautiful gardens. Cafeteria open, clean toilettes available and parking in entrance. A beautiful castle ? in the middle. However, 14 e plus 7 e for kids is really expensive. Pet friendly.

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Château de Falaise is best known as a castle, where William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840 it has been protected as a monument historique.

The castle (12th–13th century), which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of the Dukes of Normandy. The construction was started on the site of an earlier castle in 1123 by Henry I of England, with the 'large keep' (grand donjon). Later was added the 'small keep' (petit donjon). The tower built in the first quarter of the 12th century contained a hall, chapel, and a room for the lord, but no small rooms for a complicated household arrangement; in this way, it was similar to towers at Corfe, Norwich, and Portchester, all in England. In 1202 Arthur I, Duke of Brittany was King John of England's nephew, was imprisoned in Falaise castle's keep. According to contemporaneous chronicler Ralph of Coggeshall, John ordered two of his servants to mutilate the duke. Hugh de Burgh was in charge of guarding Arthur and refused to let him be mutilated, but to demoralise Arthur's supporters was to announce his death. The circumstances of Arthur's death are unclear, though he probably died in 1203.

In about 1207, after having conquered Normandy, Philip II Augustus ordered the building of a new cylindrical keep. It was later named the Talbot Tower (Tour Talbot) after the English commander responsible for its repair during the Hundred Years' War. It is a tall round tower, similar design to the towers built at Gisors and the medieval Louvre.Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840, Château de Falaise has been recognised as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

A programme of restoration was carried out between 1870 and 1874. The castle suffered due to bombardment during the Second World War in the battle for the Falaise pocket in 1944, but the three keeps were unscathed.

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