Top 20 Castles around Hoegaarden

After the castle was no longer used as a castle, the Chaplains of Labour emerged, who founded the Sint-Janscollege. But the building had other functions during the war years. During the First and Second World Wars, German and American troops occupied the domain, as evidenced by the graffiti left in the tower. In the late 1940s, the buildings were repurposed as a boarding school for war orphans, an initiative of the noble foundation ‘Aide aux Enfants de la Patrie’. And from 1957 onwards, the Chaplains of Labour established a Catholic boys' boarding school and school there. Source: https://sintjanscollegemeldert.be/over-ons/geschiedenis

Both the old and current castle of Meldert underwent major changes after devastating fires. The current castle, although dating from the mid-1840s, underwent drastic changes after a severe fire in 1877. After a fire (1568) had destroyed the donjon or medieval residential tower in the village center, the family of Montenaken, heirs of the knights of Meldert, built a square farmstead, further south and higher up, the old castle. Due to a series of inheritances, the building eventually came into the ownership of Louise van der Noot at the beginning of the 19th century. The severe fire in 1877, which originated on the second floor, caused so much damage to the roof and floors that the land registry considered the castle a ruin. Only in 1882 was it registered again as taxable and thus habitable. Heir Adrien d’Oultremont took advantage of this opportunity to redecorate the building to his taste and that of his time. The harmonious neo-Gothic manor house of Vivroux evolves into a sturdy medieval fortress… More medieval than the Middle Ages. Source and more: https://sintjanscollegemeldert.be/over-ons/geschiedenis

On school days, the castle domain of Meldert is only accessible to students and staff of the Sint-Janscollege. Outside of school hours, the private domain is accessible during the day for those who wish to walk there. And during school holidays, it is certainly worth the effort. You will find some interesting buildings and beautiful natural areas with grasslands, ponds, woods, and boardwalks here and there. And I haven't even mentioned some impressive trees and the interesting history of the garden. The castle of Meldert as it looks now was only recently restored and has been back in use by the school since the beginning of 2026. The renovation began in the summer of 2024 and aimed, among other things, to make the castle more energy-efficient and modern inside. It was built in its current form in the 19th century (based on a design by architect Auguste Vivroux) and served as a residence for Count Adrien d'Oultremont de Duras and his family. The castle, with its older core, consists of a north-south oriented, rectangular volume entirely built of Gobertange stone. There was also a castle here before. The castle of Meldert was first mentioned in written sources from 1572, and there was likely one even before that. The predecessor of the current neo-Gothic castle was demolished in 1845 on the initiative of Countess Vander Noot. The domain was purchased in 1957 by the Aalmoezeniers van de Arbeid, who established the Sint-Janscollege there. The castle, the service wing, and the garden pavilion were protected as monuments in 1993. The park area, which grew into a natural forest, was protected as a village view and partly managed as a nature reserve. During the restoration of the large front salon, the original wall decoration was found hidden behind a monumental mirror. The entire room has been restored to its original state. Photos of the interior and a report about the restored castle can be found at https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/01/05/school-opnieuw-in-kasteel-meldert-hoegaarden/ The rest of the text and information about the details of the building can be found via: Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kasteel Van Meldert, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/200190 Naturally, the municipality of Hoegaarden also pays attention to this special castle with its orangery, chapel, coach house, former stables, and 40-hectare domain. See https://www.lokaalbestuurhoegaarden.be/visit-hoegaarden/bezienswaardigheden/erfgoed/meldert/sint-janscollege-kasteel-van-meldert

After the gruesome murder of the last owner, Baroness Thérèse Ernst de Bunswyck, the municipality purchased part of the estate, including the castle, which now serves as Boutersem's town hall. Other lots went to different owners, so the heritage's unity is somewhat lost, with several buildings besides the castle itself. However, there's much more than meets the eye.

The castle's core dates back to 1718, modified several times during the 19th century, and eclectically renovated after 1922; the castle and its outbuildings are surrounded by a 16.5-hectare park, originally a high courtyard with a watermill and mill pond; a classic 18th-century valley floor site, redeveloped in an early landscape style around 1830-1835; redeveloped around 1900 in a late landscape style; municipally owned since 1980; ice and vegetable cellars, numerous old trees. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kwabeek Castle Estate, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/41588

The description is very accurate. Thank you.

Always very pleasant to walk/run in this beautiful park

Rebuilt eclectic country house designed in 1916 by architect Chrétien Veraart and surrounded by a park in landscape style, approximately 16 hectares, laid out from 1859; numerous old (sweet chestnuts and brown beeches) and rare trees. First, the Hof te Laar stood here, known since the fifteenth century as a leasehold farm of the monastery of Gempe. In 1789, it was sold to the son of the Baron van Roosbeek. Between 1800 and 1810, the Hof te Laar was purchased by Charles-Lambert-Joseph de Maurissens. He left it to his nephew, knight Edouard Godefroid de Maurissens (1793-1853). And a few years after his death, the south wing of the court was converted into a "castle". After WWII, the then owners left the castle domain and in 1948 the heirs sold the castle and park to the University of Leuven to build a 'sanatorium' (clinic for tuberculosis sufferers) on the edge of the park. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Domain de Maurissens, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/303094