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SPONTIN




The first lords of Spontin where descendants of the guardians of Hoei. The keep of their castle reflected in the clear water of the river Bocq. “Willem van Beaufort” was a loyal servant to the Count of Luxembourg. In 1288 during the battle of Woeringen, Willem was brave and protected his Count so well that he received from the future Emperor “Hendrik VII” all the land around Spontin. The large square keep had undergone already several sieges but was never defeated. After the construction of curtain walls in the 14th century the stronghold was besieged again. The Siege of the armies of the city Luik in 1429 was not successful. In 1465 the castle was under attack by the inhabitants of Dinant and they were able to take the castle and destroyed it. “Margaretha van Spontin” transferred the castle in 1515 to “Jean van Gilmes, Count of Florence”. This family restored the towers at the entrance and the living quarters and they also tore down parts of the curtain walls. However, this was not the end of troubled times for this castle. In 1554 the French troops of “Duke van Nevers” arrived at the doors of Spontin ready for battle. The castle was partly destroyed.
The last “Glimes van Florence” married the “Marquis van Beaufort – Spontin” in 1747. This is how the castle came again in the hands of the family that were the first owner. The married couple moved to Austria after a couple of years and they sold Spontin to the “Count van Gourcy – Serainchamps”. Later on it also became property of the “van Caloens” family then as time went on that of the “Pierponts” family.
This beautiful monument of the county of Namen was bought not so long ago by the “nv Société de Chateau de Spontin”, an organization that will take care of this middle age stronghold from now on.
I visited this castle in May 2001 and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The entrance fee is 150bef. One can walk freely around and inside the castle. It still contains a lot of medieval sentiments. Especially the keep, it still retains the ancient appearance.There are many rooms and dark cold narrow staircases. The river Bocq surrounds the castle with two small waterfalls at the back of the castle.
A bed and breakfast stay at the castle would be a grant event. Or you can rent the castle for parties and other gatherings for up to 2000 people. The castle is open for visits all year round from 11am to 4pm except on Tuesdays. It is very easy to find. Take the E411 from Brussels to Luxembourg, take Exit 19 and the castle is on your right after a few hundred meters just before the bridge over the river Bocq. Enjoy your visit!



MODAVE



On the foundations of the mighty castle, where the noble families of the “Modaves”, “de Haultepennes” and “de Saint-Fontaines” lived rises a new curious castle in 1658. The towers and the location on a steep cliff refer to the Middle Ages however the front has a more classical style. It was “Jean-Gaspard, Count of Marchin” who commissioned the building of the castle in 1658. The Count was married to “Marie de Balzac d”Entragues”who was the niece of the ravishing Marchioness of Verneuil who was almost married with “Henri IV”. Because of this the Count of Marchin was very close to the French throne. The ceilings were decorated by the famous plasterer “J.C. Hansche” who decorated them with coat of arms which were very disputable.
The castle was later hand over to Prince Bishop from Luik who gave it to the “Cardinal von Fürstenberg”.
The Duke of Montmorency, who was the son of “Anne – Barbe de Ville” decorated the castle very luxurious. The domain was sold in 1817 to the family “Lamarches”. After it became property of the “Braconiers” family after which it came in the hands of the “van Hoegaerden” family. In 1941 the castle was bought buy the Brussels water company. Who have taken care of the domain ever since.
The first Lords of Modave lived in the castle in 1233. We are now 768 years later and the castle Modave is still an impressive palace.
I visited the castle in May 2001. The cost was 200Bef to get in. One can visit 20 rooms who are beautifully decorated. Also the furniture still looks luxurious. You can walk freely in the castle and also in the surrounding gardens. I would recommend it if you want to expierence a very nice visit of a luxuriously decorated and furnished castle.
Take the E411 from Brussels to Luxembourg, take Exit 18 at the end of the exit ramp go right onto the N4. Follow this road for a while until you see the sign N97 Hamois – Havelange. Now follow the signs to Modave and than the castle signs that will lead you right to the castle. The scenery leading to the castle is splendid. You'll enjoy the drive.



ALDEN BIESEN



You can write a book about the history of this castle. So I will give a short version of the rich history of this impressive building. Alden Biesen is the biggest castle complex between the rivers Loire and Rijn. During the Third Crusade (1189-1192) a field hospital was set up in 1190 by Germans in order to care for the sick and the injured. This event is seen as the founding of the Fratres Domus Hospitalis Sanctae Mariae Teutonicorum in Jeruzalem (Brother of the Hospital of Our Lady of the Germans in Jerusalem) or the Teutonic Order. The order became in 1198 a knighthood. Originally, belonging to the nobility was not a condition of being admitted to the knighthood, but soon it was demanded of a postulant that he could prove he possessed four quarters. In 1567 this number was increased to eight and in 1671 to sixteen quarters of nobility.
In April 1220 “Arnold III, the Count of Loon”, and his sister, “Mechtildis d'Are, the abbess of Munsterbilzen”, gave the chapel of Alden Biesen to the Teutonic Order. Possessions surrounding the domain of Alden Biesen were also acquired by the Order. In the middle of the thirteenth century the knights decided to leave Alden Biesen, which offered relatively little protection, and moved inside the walls of the city Liège. In 1266 the Teutonic Order transferred its seat to Alden Biesen once again. Throughout history the Teutonic order enlarged their possessions. They also started to build a large water castle in Alden Biesen. The French revolution brought a hold to the Teutonic Order in this area. Since then the estate was in private hands. This resulted that the property got more and more neglected. Disaster struck Alden Biesen in 1971. A furious fire destroyed the water castle. The Flemish community who was already interested in the estate before the fire went a long with buying the remains. They started the restorations immediately. The restoration turned out fantastic. Once more Alden Biesen is prancing in all its glory. It is now a cultural centre of the Flemish community. I visited Alden Biesen in May 2001. You can walk freely around the property, visit the church and hike through the 56ha big English park. To visit the castle you have to pay a 120bef entrance fee. This will give you also access to the French Garden. In the castle is a permanent exhibition about the history of the Teutonic Order. There is also a second altering exhibition. When I visited that exhibition was about modern jewellery design. I really enjoyed my visit. The whole property and its setting in the landscape is breathtaking.
If you are in the province Limburg you certainly have to visit this impressive historical landmark.
Alden Biesen can be found in the village of Bilzen – Rijkhoven. Take the E313 Antwerpen – Luik, take Exit 31 and then follow the signs to Alden Biesen.



ZELLAER



Of the feudalistic stronghold build on assignment of “Wouter Berthout” witch stood once on this place is nothing left. Castle Zellaer, which is constructed in white sandstone, acquired it present looks in 1885. Archtitect “Heugebaarts” designed the castle after the example of a Loire castle. Zellaer is a square castle with three round and one square tower. This concept refers to the 16th century middle age water castles. The castle is now a place where one can go to reflect, contemplate, study etc. The castle is not open for the public. Although it gates are wide open. I simply walked inside and the people were very friendly and did not object that I took pictures of the outside of the castle. Although the castle is not really old it is a beautiful example of a fairytale like castle. The surrounding park is also beautiful. You can find the castle in the village of Bonheiden.



RIJKEL




Castle Rijkel started out modest. The Lords of Rijkel had since the early Middle Ages a comfortable farm with a little moat. It was only in the 16th century that they started to see things bigger. So they decided to turn their farm into a castle. They started to build a tower they added another wing and the living quarters were getting more and more rooms. The Lords Of Rijkel lost interest in the castle after a while, they had plenty of other places in the area and so the castle became neglected. “Pierre Antoin Baron de Thiribu” bought the castle and commissioned the sheriff of Rijkel to find out how much the castle was damaged. He wrote back that the castle was ruined from the ground up to the second floor. “Thiribu” started immediately with the restoration and he saw things big so he enlarged the castle again. “Maiden Marie” was the last in line of the “Thiribu” lineage. She died in 1831 and with her the last lady of the castle died. This was the start of a dark period for the castle. For one hundred years it was in decline and the complete furnishing disappeared.
The organisation ‘Les Demeures Historiques de Belgique’ bought the castle in 1936 and it becomes a protected monument in 1942. ‘Demeures Historiques’ donated the castle in 1965 to the province of Limburg. They started to restore the castle thoroughly after the northwest tower collapsed.
You can find now the tourist information centre in the castle. You can also rent bikes at the castle to explore the area. The castle is unfortunately, beside the tourist office, not open to the public. The castle is in Borgloon – Rijkel.


RULLINGEN




Nothing is left of the Middle age fortified castle that was built on this site by the “Counts of Loon”. The families “Hulbergs” and “Voordts” remodelled the castle thorough. These changes were made between the end of the 16th century and 1640. In the 18th century the property changed hands many times. The families “Wanzoules”, “Sluses” and the “Zeegaerts” were all owner at one point in history. The Barons “Pangaert d’Ortdorp” commissioned architect “Langerock” to restore the castle in 1924. He turned the castle into a mansion in the Brabantse architectural style. Nothing was left of the original castle after these restorations.
The Province of Limburg bought the domain in 1978. The castle became a hotel and restaurant. The castle is situated in a beautiful landscape with lawns and rare trees. You can walk freely in the garden and park. You can find the castle in the village Borgloon.


VRIESELHOF




The 14th century castle that stood on this place was destroyed during the First World War.
The original castle was first in the hands of the family “Vriesele”. After that it was property of the family “Edingens” and a whole string of other families until it came in the hands of the family “Halmales”. This mighty magistrate family kept the domain until the end of the 17th century. They sold it to the “Counts of Oultermont” who sold it in 1876 to the “Cousins”. The “Counts of Bergeyck”, descendants of the famous Belgians “Colbert”, rebuild the castle after the disastrous years of the First World War in neo renaissance style. They lived in the castle until 1974 and gave the domain then to the Antwerp Province council.
The castle and domain are now a provincial park. You can make long walks in the vast park. The castle itself is now a museum of textiles, particularly woven and lace works.
There is also a tavern on the domain where you can have a drink and a bite. The domain is situated in Oelegem. Take the E34 Antwerpen – Eindhoven, take exit 19 and follow the signs.


DE LA MOTTE




This castle has been since 1015 more or less always the property of the “Counts van Loon”. The castle has a stirred history. It was often besieged and burned down. For example the armies of Napoleon were so nice to destroy the castle. Beside the “van Loon” dynasty there were also other famous noble families who owned this castle. For example, Baron “De Herckenrode” who is a former mayor of Leuven. He was married with Baroness “Jeanne Maria Claire d´Udekem”, the great great-grandaunt of Princess Mathilde. Who is now married to the Belgian crown prince.
Chateau De La Motte is build on seven wells. These wells give constantly clear spring water, which has winter and summer a constant temperature of six-degree Celsius.
You can find the castle in the village Groot Gelmen, close to St Truiden. There is a brasserie and restaurant. I can recommend their warm apple pie :). The castle park is open for visitors. You can make endless walks through the beautiful nature. (The right picture is scanned from a brochure)


TIVOLI



This small castle is situated in the Tivoli Park in Mechelen. It is now a tavern. I do not have any historical information about this place.


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HULSBERG



Albert Pinnoy built this castle in 1882 after a design of architect Jamar. The castle was enlarged in 1916. The castle is private property but can be viewed from the road.