In the vastness of Western Europe there is a wonderful country - Belgium. It is famous for its picturesque views, beautiful buildings and attracts tourists from all over the world. The Belgians offer tourists a lot of entertainment and themed trips. Someone can taste the famous chocolate, someone can see diamonds, and someone can visit beaches and spa resorts. However, this is not all that this country is famous for. A separate tourist niche is occupied by old buildings erected long before the advent of modern resorts. In this article, you can admire the photos of castles in Belgium. But if you get the chance, be sure to check them out live!
Miranda Castle, Selle, Belgium (main photo)
Unfortunately, you won't be able to see this majestic building with your own eyes. The castle was demolished in 2017. But you can't help but look at this beauty at least in the photo.
Miranda Castle was erected in the citySell, in 1866. Later, it was nicknamed the "noisy castle" due to the fact that once there was an orphanage. Initially, the building functioned as a luxury hotel for French aristocrats fleeing the revolution in their native country. Miranda Castle in Belgium was founded by the Liedekerke De Beaufort family, who occupied the magnificent palace until the Second World War. After the building passed to the railway company, which turned the estate into an orphanage. It was said that it was one of the most terrible homes for orphans.
The orphanage ceased to exist in 1980, and after 1991 the castle was considered completely abandoned. The luxurious house fell into disrepair, the floor tiles were removed or stolen, vandals made holes in the walls and started several fires. Every corner of the castle was moldy and decomposed day after day.
Now the ruins of the estate are visited mainly by researchers and "ghost hunters" who cannot resist the attraction of the former orphanage, once owned by French dilettantes.
Beley Castle
Look at the photo, how do you like this building?
This castle of incredible beauty was nicknamed the "Belgian Versailles" because of its beauty and sophistication. It is located in the province of Erno, 80 km from Brussels. Unfortunately, there is no exact information about the construction of Beley Castle in Belgium. It can only be argued that earlier, until the 17th-18th centuries, a medieval fortress was located on this site, later reconstructed into the residence of the Lin aristocratic family. Note that they still have it in our time.
Historical value of Beley Castle
From the outside, the building is surrounded by an artificial fish pond, and there is also a courtyard. There are two floors for living quarters. From the lobby of the castle, paths lead to the Hall of the Marshals and the Hall of the Ambassadors. The first one became famous for the fact that its walls are decorated with paintings dedicated to Russia. The second holds three valuable canvases containing the life story of Prince Lin.
All the rooms of this castle are lined with extraordinary furniture and antiques. Also preserved are a large number of gifts from such distinguished guests as Catherine the Great, Voltaire, Rousseau and Marie Antoinette. Beley Castle has a unique library with more than twenty thousand ancient books. Many of the bindings are made by eminent craftsmen.
The main feature of the castle is in its reservoirs. The large pond is decorated with sculptures, the main of which is Neptune. Beley Castle is surrounded by a 25-hectare park. It includes an orangery built in 1830. Previously, it served as a winter garden. Nowadays, this is a wonderful place for organizing weddings, banquets and other events.
The castle is open to tourists on weekends and public holidays, and every day in July and August. In the spring, the "amaryllis extravaganza" is held at Beley Castle. This means that for 10 days the estate is decorated with magnificent flower arrangements fromamaryllis.
Castle of the Counts of Flanders
It was built in 1180, in the city of Ghent. Of all the surviving castles in Belgium, this one has an almost pristine appearance. But it has not always been used for its intended purpose. There was a prison within the walls, it was used as a mint and even equipped with a textile factory. Of course, not all at once. Such upheavals led the castle into decline, and the reconstruction was completed only by the end of the twentieth century.
Now the castle is used for guided tours, costumed knightly performances for children, events and important meetings. On the Internet, you can even find a comparison of the castle with the fortress of Winterfell, which appears in the fantasy series "Game of Thrones".
Castle Sten
This building is the oldest in the city of Antwerp. The first mention of it was found in the twelfth century. It got its name due to the fact that it is the largest building made of stone. After all, "Sten" in Dutch means "stone".
For many centuries the castle was used as a prison. This lasted until 1823. Separate buildings were allocated for people of different classes. In the left wing of the fortress there were ordinary cells without amenities and heating - they were intended for poor peasants. The rich estates were located in the right wing and lived in rooms overlooking the river.
Historical value of Sten Castle
In 1864, on the initiative of PeterGenrad, historian and archivist of Antwerp, the castle was restored and an archaeological museum was opened there. From 1952 until the end of 2008, the National Maritime Museum was located in the castle, for which a new wing was added to the castle. In 2012, it was transformed into a cultural center where all thinkers, dreamers and creative people are invited.
It is worth noting that in 1880 the castles of Belgium, which were of no value, fell under the demolition. It was possible to save only part of this fortress, its former area was several times larger, and on its territory there was a chapel of St. Walpurga. The entire complex was surrounded by a massive defensive wall, and in 1963, a monument to the Lanky Wapper was erected in front of the entrance to the castle. This is a character of Antwerp folklore who turned into a dwarf or a giant and frightened naughty children and drunkards who had gone astray.
Of course, these are not all the castles of Belgium, famous for their beauty and historical value. However, the most magnificent buildings that struck with their grandeur were presented to your attention.
