Boechout Castle

Boechout Castle, locally known as Kasteel Boechout or Bouchout, lies in the town of Meise, in the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish region in Belgium.

The first castle at this site was built in the 12th century. The oldest remaining part of the castle is the square tower, which dates back to the 14th century.

Around 1600, the castle was entirely rebuilt by its owner, Christoffel d'Assonleville. He redesigned the entire domain, including the castle, moats, and gardens, in the style of the Italian Renaissance. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was bought by the Roose family.

In 1830, Countess Elisabeth Roose married Count Amedé de Beauffort. He transformed the castle into an art museum and redesigned the gardens, giving it its current appearance.

In 1879, the castle was purchased by King Leopold II for his sister, Charlotte. She was the widow of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria, the Emperor of Mexico, who was executed in Mexico in 1867. Charlotte moved into the castle and, due to the death of her husband, went insane. She lived there until her death in 1927.

Later, the castle was acquired by the Belgian government. Between 1980 and 1988, it was restored.

Boechout Castle is now located within the grounds of the Meise Botanic Garden. To visit the garden, you need to pay a small fee. The castle now hosts conferences and similar events. Visitors can freely explore several rooms in the west and north wings, as well as the western towers, which host small art exhibitions. It's a beautiful castle set in very pleasant surroundings.

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