Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde Castle

Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde Castle, locally known as Kasteel Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde or simply Bornem Castle, lies next to the town of Bornem, in the province of Antwerp in the Flemish region in Belgium.

The first fortification at this location was built sometime during the 10th or 11th century to defend the area from Viking raids.

In 1587, the Bornem Lands, which had been ravaged by the Spanish during the 80 Years' War, were purchased by a very wealthy Spanish nobleman, Pedro Coloma, Lord of Bobadilla. He had arrived here with the Spanish army of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. He constructed a new castle on the foundations of the earlier fortification and became Lord of Bornem. His son, Alexandre, succeeded him upon his death in 1621. In 1658, Philip IV of Spain elevated the Bornem Lands to a county, making Jean-François Coloma, Pedro's grandson, the first Count of Bornem.

The castle at Bornem was heavily damaged during the wars in the 17th century, leading to the demolition of the keep in 1687.

In 1773, the De Marnix family acquired the castle after initially leasing it. During the French Revolution, the 8th Count of Bornem, Charles de Marnix, fled to the Netherlands. The castle was then confiscated and sold at auction. Charles repurchased it in 1802 and returned to live there.

In 1880, the 16th-century Bornem Castle was torn down on Count Ferdinand de Marnix’s orders to make way for a new castle. Architects Henri Beyaert and E. Janlet designed the Renaissance Revival-style castle that stands today. Although it resembles a castle, it is actually a 19th-century mansion.

In 1884, Count Ferdinand received permission for himself and his descendants to add "de Sainte Aldegonde" to the family name. Consequently, the castle is now known as Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde Castle.

Currently, the castle remains privately owned and inhabited. A small part of it operates as a museum and is open to visitors for a fee on select days each year. Photography inside the castle is prohibited. A beautiful castle.

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