Mesen Castle

Mesen Castle, locally known as Kasteel van Mesen, lies in the center of the town of Lede, in the province of East Flanders, in the Flemish region in Belgium.

Mesen Castle dates back to the 16th century. In 1566, the domain was the residence of the Bette family. In 1607, it was elevated to the status of a barony, and in 1633, to a marquisate.

In 1749, the castle was completely rebuilt, erasing all traces of its earlier form—by the French architect Giovanni Niccolò Servandoni for the 4th Marquess, Emmanuel de Bette. After 1796, the castle was used as industrial premises for various activities, such as a gin distillery, a sugar refinery, a tobacco factory, and potash processing.

In 1897, Mesen Castle was acquired by the Carmelite Sisters of St. Augustine, who transformed it into a boarding school for girls. They added an extra wing and a chapel. During World War I, the castle was used by German forces as a military hospital.

After World War I, the boarding school was taken over by the Royal Institute of Mesen, becoming a prestigious girls’ boarding school where students learned French, etiquette, and the ways of high society. In 1971, the school closed because the Flemish Government required all education in the region to be conducted in Dutch. Subsequently, the castle was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Over the following decades, the empty castle gradually decayed and became a popular spot for urban explorers. The local government failed to protect the historic landmark, and in 2010, the chapel and a wing were demolished amid protests. Despite ongoing protests, the rest of the castle ruins were demolished in 2015, leaving only the shell of the main building. In 2016, the right wing collapsed due to strong winds.

Today, Mesen Castle is freely accessible, though it stands as a somewhat sterile ruin. Search the internet for urban exploration pictures and videos to see what a beautiful ruin it once was.

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