The 6 best castles and stately mansions in Flanders (Belgium)

You know well that Belgian region of Flanders It is one of the top destinations among tourists who travel to Europe for the charm of its cities.

Witches, Ghent, Leuven o Antwerp They are good examples of that special attraction that Flanders arouses in us.

But this region not only has historic cities with great charm, but also offers you other attractions that are worth visiting during a vacation.

On your trip to Flanders you can also include the visit to castles and stately mansions, some of which are found in these cities, but above all you can see them in a more rural landscape environment.

After our recent trip to Flanders, in this article I am going to discover some castles and mansions that are worth visiting and that you can include in your tourist route, especially if you travel in your own vehicle or in a rental car.

Where to visit castles and stately mansions in Flanders

At the outset you should know that Flanders It is famous for its large collection of castles and stately mansions.

With more than 1.500 castles, is one of the regions with the highest density of this type of architectural monument in the entire world.

As happens in neighboring France with its famous “chateau“, under the term “castle” we must include from medieval fortifications a palatial mansions from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The visit to these majestic buildings becomes a walk through the history of Flanders, and there is always something new to see and learn about, whether exploring an ancient throne room or simply enjoying the scenery from the top of a keep.

In addition, it is possible to spend the night in some of these historic mansions to live a unique experience and fully immerse yourself in the aforementioned flamenco history and culture.

Including a visit to one of these castles or mansions in your trip is the best complement to getting to know Flanders, as well as enjoying its beautiful cities.

Gravensteen, Castle of the Counts of Flanders in Ghent

If on your trip what you are looking for is to see a real medieval fortress, you must visit the imposing Gravensteen, also known as the Castle of the Counts of Flanders.

Located in the heart of Ghent, between the channels of the Lys river, today it is one of the most visited monuments in this very beautiful Flemish city, with 400.000 visitors a year.

In addition to entering a real medieval castle, on your walk along its walls you will be able to see beautiful panoramic views of Ghent.

Its origins date back to the 11th century, when the Counts of Flanders They built a stone fortification that replaced a first wooden building.

Throughout history it served the function of a military fortification, until in the 18th century it was sold to individuals who made it industrial use as a cotton spinning mill.

Since 1913 it has been owned by the municipality and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Ghent.

In your visit to the Castle of the Counts of Flanders, you will walk through various rooms set up as a museum, among which the exhibition of medieval weapons and armor.

The great attraction of the visit is being able to tour the walls seeing different perspectives of the city, where the different towers and docks stand out.

Here schedules and ticket prices to visit this castle in Ghent.

Oidonk Castle near Ghent

El Oidonk Castle (Kasteel Oidonk), located on the outskirts of the small town of Deinze, just 20 kilometers from Ghent, is an architectural gem that resembles the imposing mansions of the 19th century.

Surrounded by beautiful gardens and wooded areas, in its day it was a strength Built to defend the city of Ghent, but today it is the private residence of the Earl t'Kint of Roodenbekeas well as one of the most notable castles in Flanders.

This is the best example of Spanish-Flemish architecture which is preserved in Flanders.

The first defensive fortress was destroyed in 1491, and later, in 1579, the castle suffered the Wars of Religion, being destroyed again by the calvinists.

After the complete restoration of the building in 1595 in Renaissance style, a key date in its history was the acquisition in 1864 by Henri t'Kint of Roodenbeke, who was president of the Senate and minister of State.

Now part of the castle is private, although another part of it can be visited.

During the visit to Oidonk Castle, you will be able to see that the main façade through which you enter the building is preserved as it was in the 16th century, while the rear façade is an addition from the 19th century.

On your walk through its rooms you will be able to see period furniture as well as numerous paintings, some of which reflect the time of the presence of the Spanish Empire.

To highlight a portrait of Isabel the Catholic painted in the 16th century by Antonio de Melincon, as well as another box in which the Duke of Alba.

You can visit Oidonk Castle from April to the end of October, on Sundays only for guided tours, and in July and August, also on Saturdays.

Here schedules and ticket prices to visit Oidonk.

Laarne, Belgium's best preserved water castle

Located about 10 kilometers northwest of the city of Ghent, Laarne Castle (Kasteel van Laarne) is an ideal visit to immerse yourself in the architecture and charm of the Middle Ages.

Due to its proximity, we arrived making a bike tour from the center of Ghent which took us about three quarters of an hour.

El Laarne Castle It originally dates back to the beginning of the 14th century, and has been the subject of numerous remodeling and extensions over time.

It was around the year 1300 when excavations at the site have shown that a first rectangular sandstone building was erected that must have replaced the first wooden fortified structure.

More than a defensive objective, it is thought that it was built to show the power and wealth of the Sir who commissioned it.

Although at first it had the shape of a walled enclosure, a first was soon built to residencel between the tower of tribute and the current entry.

In the following centuries, from the 15th to the 16th, a second two-story residential wing with rooms, and in subsequent centuries it was expanded until it acquired its current appearance.

The first thing that will catch your attention when you arrive at the Laarne Castle is that it is surrounded by a large moat with water, so to access its interior you have to pass a wooden drawbridge.

Over time the castle went from being a gloomy medieval fortress to luxurious summer residence.

It is coinciding with the Spanish dominion of the Netherlands when Laarne Castle reached its greatest splendor.

He later survived the troops of Louis XIV, and during the 19th century it stopped being a summer residence and remained uninhabited for a time.

At the beginning of the 20th century it was acquired by the Count of Ribaucourt, and after various vicissitudes, in 1943 he sold it to an association of historic cities in Belgium that restored and furnished it to finally open it to public visits in 1963.

larne It has an architecture that combines defensive elements with aesthetic details of the Renacimiento.

On its facades you can see the combination of high stone walls, towers and the large moat that surrounds it, which makes it one of the best preserved water castles in Belgium.

During your visit you will walk through rooms decorated with period furniture, hangings y paintings, in addition to being able to see the European silver collection Claude D'Allemagne.

Here you have information with schedules and ticket prices to visit Laarne Castle.

Bornem Castle, Loire landscape in Flanders

If on your trip to Flanders you are looking to see a castle with an image and landscape that reminds you of the famous castles of the Loire In France, you must visit the Bornem Castle.

Located just 40 kilometers north of Brussels, when after walking along a dirt track you reach the door of the wall that surrounds the castle grounds, from there you will be impressed by its image.

Surrounded by some extensive gardens and from a channel Scheldt River, Bornem Castle It shows a truly spectacular image that you will surely not stop photographing.

Its origins date back to Roman times, and later, in the 9th century, there seems to have been a defensive tower against the invasions of the Normans.

From 1007 to 1250, the Viscounts of Ghent are the owners of the castle, who become the first Lords of Bornem.

In subsequent centuries it became the property of the Counts of Flanders, and then also lives a period of Burgundy.

As a curious fact, you should know that in 1586, after the fall of Antwerp at the hands of the Spanish army, the Bornem Castle becomes the property of Pedro Coloma, an officer of said army.

And at the end of the 17th century, a grandson of his was named first Count of Bornem by the Spanish king Philip IV.

Currently and since 1773, this castle has been property of the Marnix family, and specifically, the current owner is the 14 Count of Bornem and the 54 Lord of the castle, and resides in it.

During your visit you will see that it is a Renaissance style fortified castle, in which only a few sections of wall and tower bases remain of the original medieval castle.

When visiting the interior you will be able to see spectacular decoration in all its rooms, in which the Louis XV and Louis XVI style with Italian touches.

On the tour you will see a complete antique furniture in addition to decorative elements, as well as candelabras, porcelain, and paintings.

In this regard, note that in the Bornem Castle you can see one of the most important private collections of engravings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

Finally, notable rooms are the dining room, with paintings from the 16th centuries, the living room and the smoking room.

Het Steen, former medieval castle in Antwerp

En Antwerp you will be able to see a small medieval castle which was part of the stone fortress that was built to defend the city from Viking raids at the beginning of the Middle Ages.

This is the Steen Castle (Het Steen) located on the banks of the Scheldt River next to the cruise port, in the heart of Antwerp old city.

It has been closed for many years and on my recent trip to Flanders I was finally able to visit it, after being converted into a museum and Visitors Center.

The current castle was built in 1225, and at that time it was known as the Antwerp Fortress.

Was the Emperor Charles V who commissioned an extension in the 16th century, and the fortification became known as Pride Rock, and later on, Het Steen, the rock.

The old fortress, with historic houses and the city's oldest church, was mostly demolished in the 19th century to expand the port of Antwerp.

The recent restoration began in 2018, with a new building similar to the one in 1890, so that the old castle was reopened to the public in autumn 2021.

Specifically, during the visit you will access the rooms of a true avant-garde museum where the Antwerp history.

It is a interactive exhibition with multimedia presentations in several languages, including Spanish, and to highlight the curious collection of large tapestries with characters and city scenes.

You will end the visit going up to the panoramic roof from where you see the city and the Scheldt River, as well as the new cruise terminal in the foreground.

Here you have information with schedules and prices to visit Steen Castle from Antwerp.

Beaucarne, family mansion in Ename

If you are looking to know the atmosphere of a true family mansion in Flanders, you must visit the Beaucarne House en Ename, next to the small town of Oudenaarde.

It is a 18th century family house which has been inhabited by the same family since 1748, and which has currently been restored by the last generation to turn it into a place for tourists to visit and host events.

This gives Beaucarne a great authenticity, which is its main attraction.

During the visit you will walk through several rooms that preserve the original decoration and objects from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as its gardens and greenhouse.

During it you will see various curious collections, such as doll houses, exotic plants or various objects from the Ename Abbey, for which the first owners of the house worked.

In the garden there is a catalpa and a huge magnoliaas well as a huge vine that enters through the windows in the old greenhouse.

Here you have all the information about the guided tour and prices to know this stately home.

Likewise, from May to October, from Friday to Sunday, you can freely access the Beaucarne tea house located in the garden.