Gaasbeek Castle
50°47′48″N 4°11′50″E / 50.79667°N 4.19722°E / 50.79667; 4.19722
Modern castle: 16th century
Restored: 1898
Gaasbeek Castle (Dutch: Kasteel van Gaasbeek; French: Château de Gaesbeek) is a castle located in Lennik, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Nowadays, it serves as a national museum. It is surrounded by a park.
History
The fortified castle was erected around 1240 to defend the Duchy of Brabant against the County of Flanders. The castle was destroyed, however, by Brussels city troops in revenge for the assassination of Everard t'Serclaes, which was allegedly commanded by the Lord of Gaasbeek at the time, Sweder of Abcoude.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Dominium of Gaesbeeck was inherited by the House of Hornes; they constructed a brick castle on the ruins of the medieval fortress. In 1565, Lamoral, Count of Egmont, acquired the 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 on the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (main square) of Brussels.
In the following centuries, the castle was inhabited by several noble lords, amongst them René de Renesse, 1st Count of Warfusée, who acquired the castle and restored the buildings. It obtained its pseudo-medieval appearance as the result of a renovation during the years 1887–1898. The works were executed by the architect Charles Albert and ordered by the Marquise Arconati-Visconti (née Marie Peyrat) who owned the castle at that time, having inherited it from her husband. At her death in 1923, the Marquise donated the castle to the Belgian State, including the art collection and the grounds.
Museum
Since 1980, the castle has been owned by the Flemish Community (Vlaamse Gemeenschap). The castle contains impressive art collections displayed in lavishly decorated historical rooms. A remarkable collection piece is the authentic testament of the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens. The castle and its grounds (a park of 50 hectares or 124 acres) are open to the public.
From 30 August 2020 to 2023, the museum was closed due to renovation works to the castle. The park and the garden remained accessible during this period.
Gallery
- Aerial view
- The courtyard
- Rear façade of the right wing
- View from the pond
- St. Gertrude's Chapel
- The park with the triumphal arch at the end
- Blue Room
- Guard Room
See also
External links
- Official website of Gaasbeek Castle
- v
- t
- e
- Abée Castle
- Acoz Castle
- Alden Biesen Castle
- Chateau des Amerois
- Annevoie Castle
- Antoing Castle
- Château d'Anvaing
- Château royal d'Ardenne
- Ardooie Castle
- Kasteel van Arenberg
- Aspremont-Lynden Castle
- Attre Castle
- Beauvoorde Castle
- Beersel Castle
- Château de Belœil
- Belvédère Castle
- La Berlière Castle
- Château de Beurthé
- Château Bilquin de Cartier
- Binche Palace
- Blanmont Castle
- Boelare Castle
- Château de Bois-Seigneur-Isaac
- Bolland Castle
- Bonlez Castle
- Bonneville Castle
- Bornem Castle
- Borrekens Castle
- Bossenstein Castle
- Bouchout Castle
- Château de Bouillon
- Braine Castle
- Château des Cailloux
- Chimay Castle
- Royal Castle of Ciergnon
- Cleydael Castle
- Château de Corroy-le-Château
- Couwelaar Castle
- Crèvecœur Castle
- Crupet Castle
- Dave Castle
- Deulin Castle
- Diepenbeek Castle
- Donnea Castle
- Château de Duras
- Écaussinnes-Lalaing Castle
- Elewijt Castle
- Castle of l'Estriverie
- Fagnolle Castle
- Falaën Castle
- La Falize Castle
- Château de Fallais
- Falnuée Castle
- Fanson Castle
- Farciennes Castle
- Faulx-les-Tombes Castle
- Fernelmont Castle
- Château de Flawinne
- Florennes Castle
- Château de Fontaine
- Fontaine-l'Évêque Castle
- Fosteau Castle
- Château de La Fougeraie
- Franc-Waret Castle
- Franchimont Castle
- Castle of Freÿr
- Gaasbeek Castle
- Geeraard de Duivelsteen
- Gors Castle
- Gravensteen
- Groot-Bijgaarden Castle
- Guirsch Castle
- Ham-sur-Heure Castle
- Hamal Castle
- Harzé Castle
- Hasselbrouck Castle
- Haultepenne Castle
- Hauteroche Castle
- Haversin Castle
- Havré Castle
- Heers Castle
- Hélécine Castle
- Hex Castle
- Houtain-le-Val Castle
- Ingelmunster Castle
- Jannée Castle
- Jehay-Bodegnée Castle
- Jemeppe Castle
- Kruishoutem Castle
- Karreveld Castle
- Kasteel van Laarne
- Kasteel Lagendal
- Landwijk Castle
- Lassus Castle
- Laval Castle
- Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne
- Kasteel van Leeuwergem
- Leignon castle
- Limont Castle
- Loppem Castle
- Male Castle
- Château Malou
- Meylandt Castle
- Château Miranda
- Mirwart Castle
- Château de Modave
- Montaigle Castle
- Montquintin Castle
- Morialmé Castle
- Nieuwerkerken Castle
- Nokere Castle
- Ommerstein Castle
- Ooidonk Castle
- Oostkerke Castle
- Opprebais Castle
- Ouren Castle
- Kasteel van Poeke
- Rameyen Castle
- Ravenhof Castle (Torhout)
- Reinhardstein Castle
- Renesse Castle
- Reuland Castle
- Reijvissche Castle
- Rivieren Castle (Ganshoren)
- La Roche-en-Ardenne Castle
- Le Rœulx Castle
- Château-ferme de Roly
- Château Rose
- Château Rouge
- La Royère Castle
- Royseux Castle
- Rullingen Castle
- Rumbeke Castle
- Château-ferme de Samart
- Sars-la-Bruyère Castle
- Sart-Eustache Castle
- Château de Seneffe
- Solre-sur-Sambre Castle
- Solvay Castle
- Sombreffe Castle
- Sorghvliedt Castle
- Spanjaardenkasteel
- Spiere Castle
- Spontin Castle
- Het Steen
- Sterckshof
- Château du Stuyvenberg
- Tavigny Castle
- Templeuve Castle
- Ter Leyen Castle
- Thoricourt Castle
- Thuillies Castle
- Castle of Thy-le-Château
- Tielen Castle
- Tillegem Castle
- Tornaco Castle
- Trazegnies Castle
- D'Ursel Castle
- Château of Val-Duchesse
- Château de Vêves
- La Vicomté Castle
- Vierset Castle
- Vierves-sur-Viroin Castle
- Villers-sur-Semois Castle
- De Viron Castle
- Vogelsanck Castle
- Vonêche Castle
- Castle of Waha
- Walberg Castle
- Waleffe Castle
- Walzin Castle
- Castle of Warfusée
- Waroux Castle
- Wégimont Castle
- Castle of Westerlo
- Westmalle Castle
- Kasteel van Wijnendale
- Wissekerke Castle
- Château de Wodémont
- Zeebroeck Castle
- Zétrud-Lumay Castle
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Braine-le-Ch%C3%A2teau_CH1c_JPG.jpg/150px-Braine-le-Ch%C3%A2teau_CH1c_JPG.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/De_Viron_Castle_%28DSC_2198%29.jpg/150px-De_Viron_Castle_%28DSC_2198%29.jpg)