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A beautiful place for rest and walking: you can stroll along it, enjoy the greenery and water, and it is part of the historical and natural charm of Tervuren.

Once a sturdy motte castle from the 11th century, Het Steen grew into a beautiful Renaissance castle that played a key role in the defense of Brabant against the Mechelaars for centuries. The castle is picturesquely situated in a meander of the Barebeek, surrounded by old moats and close to the Zenne, and breathes history - from knightly battles to Spanish garrisons. The most famous resident was Peter Paul Rubens, who spent his last summers here, painted, partied with artist friends such as Van Dyck and Teniers, and immortalized the surrounding nature on canvas.

The core of Horst Castle probably dates back to the 13th century and is characterised by a square keep. The keep probably belonged to the oldest core that was further expanded into a fortified castle in the 15th century. During the troubles under Maximilian of Austria in 1489, the castle of Horst was taken by the people of Leuven and set on fire. According to literary sources, only the keep, part of the entrance gate and a defensive wall remained standing. The residential and east wing were renovated and expanded in the 16th century. The round tower also dates from this period. The outer wall was provided with a rectangular bay window. The castle lost its military character and became more of a pleasant residential area with a view of the moat, the ponds and the inner courtyard. Brick construction with sandstone layers characterise these buildings. In 1587, however, the castle was set on fire again during the raids of the Geuzen. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that restoration work began. It is difficult to deduce from the available sources to what extent this involved restoration or an embellishing conversion of the castle complex. Presumably nothing changed in the internal structure, but only after the structurally necessary repairs were the interiors completely refinished. Maria-Anna Van den Tympel had a new chapel built against the keep in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the complex must have been damaged by plundering and neglect, and it is possible that it also suffered from plundering during the Brabant Revolution of 1830. Around 1850, the castle must have been habitable again, but the castle buildings only served as a farm. In the land registry, the site around the castle is called "De Notelaren Boomgaerd". Around that time, the most dilapidated part must have been demolished, namely the southern part and the superstructure of the gate. The rest of the complex was probably restored with reused demolition material and in traditional style. The castle was divided in 1880, with one part being registered as a school house. In 1897, a further division followed, with two plots being designated as houses. Several restoration campaigns followed in the 20th century. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Horst Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43619

Since December, there has been a spire on the castle again after the unstable spire was removed more than four years ago and could be viewed on a wooden platform in the pond. Now it is back. And the other works are also progressing quickly. More about the replaced spire on https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/12/10/torenspits-staat-weer-op-kasteel-van-horst-holsbeek/

The Donjon Ter Heyden, also known as the tower of Ter Heyden, is a residential tower in the Belgian town of Rotselaar (province of Flemish Brabant) from the mid-fourteenth century. The donjon was built between 1350 and 1363 by order of Gerard van der Heyden, the then bailiff of the Duchy of Brabant, when he acquired the status and funds through a marriage with a noblewoman to erect a building of such calibre.

superb, well-maintained and very varied park

Beautiful park

Het Steen and appurtenances (Steendreef 77): protected monument (28/10/1948) in Flemish Renaissance style. Only the facades and roofs of the main building and outbuildings, with the exception of the stables and sheds from the first half of the 19th century, are protected. On the left in front of 't Steen, popularly known as 'Het Rubenskasteel', our attention goes to the second frame. Here we are looking in the direction of Perk where Rubens' friend David Teniers lived. Is that how Rubens saw it in his time? The castle grew out of a motte, a heavy stone residential tower on a hill, surrounded by water. The oldest known owner of the first castle was probably Rudolf van Wilre, who had the Steenvaart or the connection between the Barebeek and the Zenne dug in 1259. Later this was filled in and is now the toevaartdreef. In a deed from 1304 there was mention of a castle in white stone. It was a feudal castle, with towers and moats, like most castles from that time, comparable to the Steen in Antwerp or the Kantersteen in Brussels. As an advanced defense position it played its role for centuries in the wars between the people of Mechelen and Brussels.