Top 10 Castles around Ardooie

very nice and quiet area

Today, parts of the castle are rented out as a venue for corporate events, seminars, parties, and more. Extensive work has been carried out for this purpose over the past quarter century. Mr. Marc Van Honsebrouck, who died last year at the age of 89, had lived in the castle with his family since 1986, and had already commissioned renovations around the turn of the century. But disaster struck shortly afterward. On September 20, 2001, at 1:45 a.m., a fire broke out. Fortunately, Mr. Marc and his family managed to escape, but the entire left wing, both the ground floor and the upper floor, was completely destroyed. Although the fire department arrived very quickly, many priceless works of art were lost in the fire. The building itself suffered greatly, but the skill of the firefighters managed to stop the all-consuming flames. The grief over this terrible event was palpable far beyond the castle grounds. In 2012, Mr. Marc Van Honsebrouk decided to take over the castle's entire care and bought out his brother, who had been co-owner until then. His plan was to breathe new life into the castle, which had only been made wind- and watertight after the fire. The result of the past few years is the magnificent halls that shine again. Sources: https://kasteelvaningelmunster.be/ https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20230824_96366895

The origin of the name "Ingelmunster" most likely lies in the history of this castle. The castle was built on the ruins of a seventh-century monastery. In 740, the monastery was reportedly inhabited by English monks, who gave it their name: Anglo Monaterum, Engelmunster, or Ingelmunster, meaning "Monastery of the Angels." In 855, the monastery fell prey to the Normans, the feared rulers of the sea. They plundered and burned the monastery. Little more than a ruin remained of the "Monastery of the Angels." The first Flemish ruler to establish a political presence in West Flanders was Robert I the Frisian, the tenth Count of Flanders. His reign lasted from 1071 to 1093, and he had the fortified castle built on the site of the ruins. Ingelmunster's location, on the doorstep of West Flanders and along the waterway that crossed the military route between Kortrijk and Bruges, was of such strategic importance that it was called the "Key to Flanders." Ingelmunster Castle, which at that time was still a veritable "lock," offered the key to unlocking a tactical advantage. Source: https://kasteelvaningelmunster.be/historiek-kasteel/

Ter Borcht Castle has a long and eventful history and is deeply intertwined with Meulebeke. The house is the resting place of the lords of Meulebeke. For them, it is more of a summer residence, as they usually find their permanent, comfortable abode in a number of Flemish fortified cities such as Bruges and Ghent. The De Beer family owned this piece of Meulebeke territory for almost 250 years, until 1819. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Ter Borcht was continuously inhabited by members of the upper middle class. The current castle dates from the seventeenth century and was built around an older core. The building consists of two nearly identical wings. The second wing was completed before 1654. In 1859, the Thienpont family began a major renovation of the castle, and the facades were given a classical look. The original brick and natural stone finish disappeared under a thick plaster. Only the early seventeenth-century gate towers still retain their original appearance today. The park, built in the English landscape style (1850-1875), features several old viewpoints: towards the church, the (now vanished) Borchtmolen, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In this way, the village and surrounding area do not escape the all-seeing eye of the lord of the castle. Over time, these viewpoints almost completely disappeared. Source: information board on site

The 10-hectare English-style park surrounding the neoclassical Blauwhuis Castle is open daily from sunrise to sunset. There are three entrances: the main entrance on Gentseheerweg, an entrance via Kasteelstraat, and one via the walking and cycling path between the fire station and Emelgem Bridge. Source: https://www.toerisme-leiestreek.be/nl/kasteel-blauwhuis-0

to eat and walk

According to a former resident, the castle has recently become uninhabited and is for sale.

The small castle is 'hidden' in the center of Ruddervoorde. The modest park around the castle can be considered as a green lung on the map of the city of Ruddervoorde. You will find some small farms along the way to the castle. It used to be the houses of the personel that worked for the owners of the castle. Be aware: don't walk on the domain: some severe warnings (style Monty Python) 'Wolfijzers en schietgeweren' ('Iron Wolf and rifles') are written on plates, pending on the trees at the entrance. The main raison why you should pass over here is because of the pittoresque road through the domain, shortcut from the city to the highway E401. It is very quiet and you often see and hear a lot of local birds and if you are happy a deer family.