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.

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Address

Isidoor van Beverenstraat 7, Dilbeek, Belgium
See all sites in Dilbeek

Details

Founded: 12th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Belgium

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.kasteelgrootbijgaarden.be

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


St. Nicholas Church (6,8 km)
La Grand-Place (6,9 km)
Brussels Town Hall (6,9 km)
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (7,5 km)
Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg (7,6 km)
Royal Palace of Brussels (7,8 km)
Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon (7,5 km)
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (7,3 km)
Chapel Church (7,1 km)


Antwerp City Hall (39,8 km)
Cathedral of Our Lady (39,7 km)
Leuven Town Hall (30,7 km)
St. Peter's Church (30,7 km)
Rubenshuis (39,5 km)
St. Rumbold's Cathedral (22,9 km)
Lion's Mound (23,9 km)
Het Steen (39,9 km)
Mechelen Town Hall (22,9 km)

User Reviews

Lauranne P (3 years ago)
We visited the park for the Floralia event and all I can say is that it was truely amazing. There was more than enough parking place and the netrance felt like a small market place. The flowers themselves were beautiful as well. It's ckean and cared for. There were refreshments available, smoothies that were made on the spot and a gorgeous place by the water to enjoy thel in peace
Dorian Scheenloop (3 years ago)
A beautiful and authentic castle which also provides an amazing park and garden full of flowers and great oaks.
Mitr Friend (3 years ago)
It wasn't very big and cannot be compared to the tulip fields of Keukenhof, but this is the best place to go in Brussels. Try to go early and do not climb the tower as soon as you enter. The best way to enjoy is to go to the floral area in the most interior region and then finally climb the tower.
Gu Ka (3 years ago)
It was fantastic experience, it is beautiful place and good arranging of all plants. You can smile all the time, there is no other way, so many flowers aground! that is good for mental and for the health!
Rakesh satyanarayana (3 years ago)
It is a nice place to visit in the outskirts of Brussels city. A old castle and very well maintained garden and lot of flowers. Calm place to go,relax and picnic. Visit between April and May will be more good because there will be floraila flower exhibition.
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Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends. One of them narrates the origin of the name of castle derived from that of jester Becko for whom the Duke Stibor had the castle built.

Another legend has it that the lord of the castle had his servant thrown down from the rock because he protected his child from the lords favourite dog. Before his death, the servant pronounced a curse saying that they would meet in a year and days time, and indeed precisely after that time the lord was bitten by a snake and fell down to the same abyss.

The well-conserved ruins of the castle, now the National Cultural Monument, are frequently visited by tourists, above all in July when the castle festival takes place. The former Ambro curia situated below the castle now shelters the exhibition of the local history.

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