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The Spanish House

The Spanish House

Highlight • Historical Site

The Spanish House

Recommended by 115 hikers out of 120

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden

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Location: Tervuren, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to The Spanish House

4.6

(27)

196

hikers

1. Warande Route

6.27km

01:39

50m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.4

(14)

hikers

2. Tervuren Ponds – Castle Pond, Tervuren Park loop from Hoeilaart

18.1km

04:44

130m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.5

(17)

100

hikers

3. AfricaMuseum, Tervuren – Tervuren Park loop from Tervuren

11.2km

02:57

100m

90m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Willem VS

August 10, 2020

The Spanish House is the popular name for the former Gordaalmolen, a former ducal banmolen on the pond of the same name (Gordaalvijver).

Translated by Google •

December 5, 2024

The name Spaans Huis is much more recent than the name Gordaalmolen or Gordaelmolen, as this building was originally called (and is still called). Go(o)rdaal was a medieval hamlet that belonged to the lords of Rotselaar for a while (fifteenth century). It thus became a neighbour of Warande. De Warande is still a name given to the park of Tervuren.

The so-called Spaans huis was originally a watermill in Goordaal, a marshy hamlet because the name comes from goor dal where goor means marshy and we all know a valley.

According to the information board on the building (see photos), it was built in the seventeenth century and served as a ducal ban mill. In short: people had to have their grain ground there? What is Spanish about it? The period in which the brick from which it was built was often used.

Today the Goordaalmolen is located at the Goordaalvijver: komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/1776479

Translated by Google •

December 5, 2024

In the former hamlet of Goordaal, a water mill, the Moelene van Gordale, was built around 1293. This was one of the twelve ducal ban mills on the Voer between Tervuren and Leuven.

In the medieval legal system, wind and water belonged to the owner of the fief, in this case the Duke of Brabant. The surrounding farmers were therefore obliged to grind their grain here and leave some of it behind. The dilapidated wooden mill was rebuilt in 1534 in brick and natural stone with a tiled roof instead of straw. Clay for the bricks was collected in the surrounding area. The name Spaans huis refers to the elongated facade stones, Spanish stone.

In the 17th century, Archdukes Albrecht and Isabella had a long wall built around the Warande. The walls of the Spaans huis were also rebuilt. The current appearance, albeit without a mill, dates from that time. The mill remained in operation until the second half of the 18th century. For the 1897 World Exhibition, Leopold II had the ponds enlarged and trees planted. The picturesque mill house inspired artists and writers, such as Eleanor Smith with her novel The Spanish House.

Source: randkrant.be/nl/news/2029/bouwwerk-het-spaans-huis-in-tervuren

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 70 m

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Tuesday 11 November

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Tervuren, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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The Spanish House

1. Warande Route

2. Tervuren Ponds – Castle Pond, Tervuren Park loop from Hoeilaart

3. AfricaMuseum, Tervuren – Tervuren Park loop from Tervuren

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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