Top 20 Lakes around Holsbeek

Nice view and lots of nature.

The core of Horst Castle probably dates back to the 13th century and is characterised by a square keep. The keep probably belonged to the oldest core that was further expanded into a fortified castle in the 15th century. During the troubles under Maximilian of Austria in 1489, the castle of Horst was taken by the people of Leuven and set on fire. According to literary sources, only the keep, part of the entrance gate and a defensive wall remained standing. The residential and east wing were renovated and expanded in the 16th century. The round tower also dates from this period. The outer wall was provided with a rectangular bay window. The castle lost its military character and became more of a pleasant residential area with a view of the moat, the ponds and the inner courtyard. Brick construction with sandstone layers characterise these buildings. In 1587, however, the castle was set on fire again during the raids of the Geuzen. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that restoration work began. It is difficult to deduce from the available sources to what extent this involved restoration or an embellishing conversion of the castle complex. Presumably nothing changed in the internal structure, but only after the structurally necessary repairs were the interiors completely refinished. Maria-Anna Van den Tympel had a new chapel built against the keep in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the complex must have been damaged by plundering and neglect, and it is possible that it also suffered from plundering during the Brabant Revolution of 1830. Around 1850, the castle must have been habitable again, but the castle buildings only served as a farm. In the land registry, the site around the castle is called "De Notelaren Boomgaerd". Around that time, the most dilapidated part must have been demolished, namely the southern part and the superstructure of the gate. The rest of the complex was probably restored with reused demolition material and in traditional style. The castle was divided in 1880, with one part being registered as a school house. In 1897, a further division followed, with two plots being designated as houses. Several restoration campaigns followed in the 20th century. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Horst Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43619

Since December, there has been a spire on the castle again after the unstable spire was removed more than four years ago and could be viewed on a wooden platform in the pond. Now it is back. And the other works are also progressing quickly. More about the replaced spire on https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/12/10/torenspits-staat-weer-op-kasteel-van-horst-holsbeek/

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

In the Paddepoel you will find a unique combination of species such as blue button, caraway, tormentil, cat's thorn, pale sedge, wild bertram and umbrella hawkweed. In early spring, hundreds of wood anemones bloom, a very rare phenomenon in grasslands. The fact that the wood anemones bloom there shows that it is a very old and undisturbed grassland. Thanks to 25 years of targeted management, several rare species have increased significantly. There are thousands of caraway, one of the largest Flemish populations. Yellow-green sedge first emerged in 2013 and is doing well. The Paddepoel is home to grasslands with lots of knotweed, sweet grass, large hawkweed and golden oat. In addition, there is a marsh marigold grassland with lots of field rush, two-row sedge and rough bedstraw. Broad-leaved orchis is expected here soon. Natuurpunt has also dug and restored a number of ponds in the Paddepoel. Salamanders feel very comfortable there. The alpine newt and small newt already live in the oldest part of the Paddepoel, but we hope that the endangered crested newt will also discover the pools.

The Paddepoel is partly located in Bunsbeek (Glabbeek) and partly in Vissenaken (Tienen). The area is situated in the middle course of the Velpe valley, between the Daalgemse mill in Vissenaken and the Rotelmolen of Pamelen. That part of the Velpe valley is a large, varied and contiguous area. It consists of marsh, hedges and woods, moist grasslands in the valley and drier grasslands on the valley flank. The more variation in the landscape, the more different plants and animals. The Velpe still meanders strongly in Paddepoel and the Rozendaalbeek valley. The banks are not artificially reinforced and regularly crumble. The river can still flow freely there. It is a paradise for kingfishers, teals and meadow damselflies. Source: https://www.natuurpunt.be/natuurgebieden/paddepoel-velpevallei-en-rozendaalbeekvallei

For those who have traded in their horse for a steel steed. Information boards and such on site.

The Ter Heide domain, better known as 'De Plas van Rotselaar', was created in 1975 after sand extraction for the construction of the E314. The domain of approximately 23 hectares is divided into different zones, each with its own access road and specific recreational options: swimming, surfing, paddle boarding and fishing. Each zone has its own parking lot. More at https://www.toerismevlaamsbrabant.be/producten/Visits/bezienswaardeheden/domein-ter-heide--plas-van-rotselaar/