Top 20 Castles around Oud-Heverlee

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

A beautiful place for rest and walking: you can stroll along it, enjoy the greenery and water, and it is part of the historical and natural charm of Tervuren.

The veneration of Saint Hubert in Tervuren, the presumed place of death of the patron saint of hunters, dates back to at least the 16th century and is probably even older. Every year on the last Sunday in October, an open-air mass is celebrated there in honor of Saint Hubert, and horses and dogs are blessed to protect them from running amok.

The watermill at Arenberg Castle was probably rebuilt around 1636 on a watermill site known before 1286, which was then equipped with two waterwheels. Major repairs were carried out on the locks around 1722-23 and 1733-35, and images of the mill also indicate modifications to the mill building in the 18th century. Around 1875, the watermill underwent a facade restoration and extension according to the then prevailing views, under the direction of architect Claes. At the same time (1870-80), the mill was equipped with a new bluestone lock and two wooden waterwheels. The waterwheels were replaced by metal wheels at the end of the 19th century, and the locks were also modified in the early 20th century. In 1940, the mill was demolished and the mill was converted into a drawing room; externally the mill was preserved, as well as the lock and the two water wheels. Source and more information: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/42570

The first mention of a castle dates from 1371 when it was a heavy keep built by Rasse de Grez, also known as Raes van Graven, a knight who lived from 1368 to 1450 and was lord of Heverlee, Vaalbeek, Bertem, Blanden, Malève and Terbruggen, among other things. The castle was demolished and the domain was ceded to the Croys (family of Croÿ) in 1446. During the first half of the sixteenth century, the reconstruction of the castle was restarted under Guillaume II de Croÿ (Willem II van Croÿ). His successor and nephew, Philip II van Croÿ, had it completed and finished, including a moat. He also had the park laid out and the avenue to Leuven extended. After the death of Charles III of Croÿ in 1612, the castle went via his sister, Anna, to the Dukes of Arenberg who lived there until the First World War. In 1920 the university acquired the domain. Sources and more info: - https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/42570 - https://www.kuleuven.be/erfgoed/gebouwen-en-monumenten/arenbergkasteel

The first mention of a castle dates from 1371 when it was a heavy keep built by Rasse de Grez, also known as Raes van Graven, a knight who lived from 1368 to 1450 and was lord of Heverlee, Vaalbeek, Bertem, Blanden, Malève and Terbruggen. The castle was demolished and the domain was ceded to the Croys (family of Croÿ) in 1446. During the first half of the sixteenth century, the reconstruction of the castle was restarted under Guillaume II de Croÿ (Willem II van Croÿ). His successor and nephew, Philip II van Croÿ, had it completed and finished with, among other things, a moat. He also had the park laid out and the avenue to Leuven extended. After the death of Charles III of Croÿ in 1612, the castle went via his sister, Anna, to the Dukes of Arenberg who lived there until the First World War. In 1920, the university acquired the domain. Sources and more information: - https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/42570 - https://www.kuleuven.be/erfgoed/gebouwen-en-monumenten/arenbergkasteel

Beautiful view of the AfricaMuseum. At the moment there are works so you can't go to the castle.