Gaasbeek Castle

Gaasbeek Castle, locally known as Kasteel van Gaasbeek, is situated near the village with the same name, in the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish region in Belgium.

Gaasbeek Castle was probably built by Godfried van Leuven around 1240. Its purpose was to defend the Duchy of Brabant against the counties of Hainaut and Flanders.

In 1388, Zweder of Abcoude was Lord of Gaasbeek. He wished to extend his power within the Duchy of Brabant but was opposed by Everard 't Serclaes, a patrician and alderman from Brussels. In March of that year, the Lord of Gaasbeek had Everard assassinated. In revenge, the people of Brussels besieged Gaasbeek Castle and destroyed it.

Around 1500, the castle was owned by the Horne family. They built a new castle on the remnants of the medieval fortress.

In 1565, Lamoral, Count of Egmont, acquired Gaasbeek Castle and its domain, including feudal rights in 17 surrounding villages. Accused of high treason by Philip II of Spain, the Count of Egmont was beheaded three years later. Later that century, the castle suffered damage from fire and acts of war.

In 1615, Gaasbeek Castle was sold to René de Renesse de Warfusée. He restored the castle and erected several buildings in the castle park. In 1695, one wing of the castle was destroyed by gunfire from the troops of Louis XIV of France.

At the end of the 18th century, Gaasbeek Castle came into the hands of a wealthy patrician family from MIlan, the Arconati Visconti, through marriage. In 1873, Gianmartino, the Marquess d'Arconati Visconti, married the French Marie-Louise Peyrat, and they resided in the castle.

Three years later, Gianmartino died, and Marie became the Marchioness d'Arconati Visconti and heiress of the castle and the family fortune. From 1887 until 1897, she had Gaasbeek Castle rebuilt and turned into the castle we see today, with the help of architect Charles Albert. The present-day interiors also date back to her time. In 1921, two years before she died, the Marquess donated the castle to the Belgian State.

The castle is situated on a slope at the edge of a plateau and has an irregular, polygonal ground plan. All that remains of the medieval castle are the bases of the buildings, recognizable from the gray stonework. All the brickwork dates back to the rebuilding of the 19th century.

Currently, Gaasbeek Castle is a national museum that can be visited with a guided tour for a small fee. Photography inside the castle is prohibited. It is a very nice castle with a worthwhile tour.

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