Ordingen Castle

Ordingen Castle, locally known as Kasteel van Ordingen, lies in the village of the same name, in the Limburg province in the Flemish region in Belgium.

The first Ordingen Castle was mentioned in 1040. In 1467, this castle was destroyed during the Battle of Brustem. It was rebuilt by the Van Horion family. During the 16th century, Willem III van Horion rebuilt the castle in a Renaissance style.

In 1611, the castle was sold to the Grand Commandery of Alden Biesen of the Teutonic Order. They reconstructed the castle into a Commandery in 1633.

During the French Revolution, Ordingen Castle was confiscated and sold as 'biens nationaux' to Pierre de Libotton. In the early 19th century, he sold it to Charles Lambert Balthazar de Pitteurs Higaerts, a sugar merchant. His son Léon, mayor of Ordingen, had the castle rebuilt in the Flemish Renaissance Revival style.

In 1940, the castle was partially destroyed during a German airstrike. Later in the war, it was occupied by German soldiers, who damaged the remaining interior. After World War II, the castle fell into disrepair. In the 1960s, the grounds surrounding the castle were parceled out, and the moats were filled in.

In 1997, it was bought by Richard Sleurs. He initiated a thorough rebuilding campaign and restored the castle’s current appearance.

Ordingen Castle is now a *****-star hotel and restaurant. It’s a beautiful castle, but a bit sterile for my personal taste.

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