De Blankaart Castle

The Blankaart Pond forms the core of the recognized nature reserve De Blankaart of Natuurpunt VZW. The pond was created around 1550 by peat extraction that soon became flooded. The name Blankaart probably also comes from 'standing blank', standing under water. A wide reed collar and a willow forest form the transition to the low-lying hay fields and meadows in the immediate vicinity.
The extensive reed marsh is a suitable habitat for many rare reed birds and marsh plants. 'The ghost of De Blankaart', the bittern, feels particularly at home here. The swampy hay fields and meadows in the area are a paradise for meadow birds and plants.
(Information board on site)

Due to its proximity to the front line, the castle was destroyed to such an extent during the First World War that only the front facade was left standing. The park forest was also badly damaged.
The castle was rebuilt in a smaller and more sober version (1925-1929) based on a design by architect Jules Gunst (Oostende). The general appearance of the castle with its two round corner towers, the chapel volume and the polygonal tower was respected. The park itself was not restored to its original state, causing a number of sight lines to disappear.
During the Second World War, the roof of the castle was damaged. The conical spires of the two round towers were not restored.
(Inventory of Immovable Heritage)

Originally, there was a pond here that was created by peat extraction that took place from the 13th century or earlier. Around 1865, Baron Gustaaf de Coninck de Merckem, who had acquired the domain, built a castle on this site that was designed by Joseph Schadde and executed in an eclectic style (with many neo-Renaissance elements). A park was also laid out at that time with service buildings such as stables, a coach house and a gardener's house. There was also a vegetable garden and greenhouses. At the end of the 19th century, the pond was deepened and a fish pond was constructed. An ice cellar and a duck decoy were also built. The domain, called De Blankaart, was already considered to be of great natural history value at that time. During the First World War, the castle was badly damaged. Only the front facade remained standing. From 1925 to 1929, it was rebuilt in a smaller and more sober form to a design by Jules Gunst. The original appearance, with the two round corner towers and the polygonal stair towers, was preserved. During the Second World War, the spire of both corner towers was destroyed and never restored. Source: nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blankaartkasteel