Top 9 Castles around Meerhout

Over the years, the castle was modernized and updated. This included the tower, whose heavy line of the fortified wall was broken by irregular window and door arrangements. The castle still houses remarkable works of art. The neo-Gothic armory houses a cast-iron stove from 1539 and two marble Renaissance mantelpieces. The castle also contains important paintings, tapestries, gold leather wallpaper, and furniture in a variety of styles. (Municipality of Westerlo)

The castle, built between 1909 and 1911 and designed by P. Langerock, was occupied by the Germans during World War II and later became a retirement home for priests. Since 1973, it has served as a town hall with a surrounding municipal park between Boerenkrijglaan, Hollandse dreef, and Merodedreef. The surrounding park features a neo-traditional gatehouse (number 63) and a gardener's house (Hollandse dreef numbers 1-3); and also includes a former sheepfold and pump house. The park surrounding the castle was transformed into an ornamental garden after World War I by the then gardener, F. Verrezen. In front of the castle: a fountain, dating from 1995 and designed by Architektuur Atelier BVBA. (Inventory of Immovable Heritage)

If a town hall can really be beautiful...

The castle of Jeanne de Merode serves as a town hall.

The castle was built between 1909 and 1911 and is a beautiful example of Brabant neo-Gothic. It belonged to the Countess Jeanne de Merode. After her death (1944) it was used for a while as a rest home for priests. Since 1972 it has served as the town hall. The name de Merode appears in the history books of Westerlo as early as the end of the 15th century. Then Westerlo even came into the hands of the noble family through marriage. It remained that way until the French Revolution. Then Westerlo was 'lent' to the Duchy of Brabant. In front of the town hall there is a beautiful fountain with three bathing women, a work of art by Rik Poot.

From Gemp Farm to a luxurious castle This historic castle became very famous in the TV series “We, gentlemen of Zichem”. It was Mr. Parmentier's home. But the story goes back much further. There used to be a tenant farm on this site that belonged to the female branch of the Premonstratensians, the Premonstratensian monastery of Gempe in Sint-Joris-Winge. That is why people spoke of the Gemp Farm for five hundred years: from 1290 to 1798. This tenant farm provided food for the hamlet and the nuns of the Gempe monastery. In 1860, the Schollaert family had a luxurious castle built on this location. Daughter Louise Schollaert even opened a school for the neighborhood children. Since the castle came into the hands of the Cruysberghs tailor family in 1956, it immediately lost its closed character and the doors were thrown open to everyone from the neighborhood who wanted to celebrate a party there. This rental provided additional income for the restoration. The overgrown orchard grew into a campsite and later into a residential park. Today you can buy an artisanal ice cream in the castle park during the summer months. Contact info Address Posted 115 2430 Laakdal E-mail address info@lwgh-laakdal.be Additional information Meerlaer Castle

Castle popularly known as "Kasteel Van de Rooy" located on the divide between the "Centre" and the previously socially less valued district "Berg". The building was previously the "maison de campaign" of the family that resided in Geel. The core of the castle would date back to the 16th century. Current appearance largely 19th century, but elements such as the curled anchors in the rear facade and western side facade. The current site consists of an enclosed domain with a castle on a rectangular plan and adjoining coach house and stables to the east around a cobbled courtyard, to the south of this a recent orangery built on the model of the coach houses, further to the northeast a preserved bakehouse with a well next to it and to the south an 18th-century garden pavilion. Knowing more? Click through to https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/52599

If you walk further along the domain from here to the back of it, you will come across an information board diagonally opposite an entrance gate over the castle by the people of Landschapspark de Merode. You will find it between the photos. If you enlarge the photo you can read the text, which has undoubtedly been approved, but also view the old drawings. A quote from the text: "Around the year 1000, Count Ansfried donated his domain Olen-Westerlo to the chapter of Utrecht, who in turn gave it on lease to the Wezemaal family in the thirteenth century. Because the legal descent of Jan II (1417 - 1464), the last lord of Westerlo from the knightly family of the van Wezemaals was disputed and because the same Jan II, as a leaseholder, committed default on payments, the Utrecht chapters decided to transfer the goods of Westerlo to the closest relatives of the van Wezemaals to bear, namely the de Merode family." Apparently, in the past it was also necessary to pay invoices on time.