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Zellaer Castle

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Zellaer Castle

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Zellaer Castle

Recommended by 102 hikers out of 103

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Location: Bonheiden, Mechelen, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Zellaer Castle

4.5

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1. Zellaer Castle – Krankhoeve Forest loop from Bonheiden

6.46km

01:37

10m

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

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Easy

4.6

(12)

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2. Krankhoeve Forest – Mispeldonk Nature Reserve loop from Bonheiden-Putsesteenweg

12.8km

03:14

20m

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

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Moderate

4.6

(11)

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3. Grote & Kleine Vijver – Nekkerspoel Pond loop from Mechelen-Nekkerspoel

27.3km

06:53

40m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

April 3, 2023

The history of Kasteeldomein Zellaer probably goes back to at least the 13th century. At that time, there was a moated castle on the spot where the current castle now stands. The first resident was in all probability Arnold van Zellaer, a wealthy canon of Sint-Rombouts. The domain has since always been a sought-after place of residence on the outskirts of Mechelen. Several high clergymen have lived there, several mayors of Mechelen, a mayor of Bonheiden, wealthy businessmen, several counts and a baron. Due to this succession of different residents, a lot of renovation and new construction work has also taken place on the domain. There have also been several castles on the same spot within the domain. The current castle is a neo-Gothic moated castle that was built around 1885. The outer facade shows a robust appearance with a drawbridge, a Donjon, battlements and loopholes. The facade stone is Gobertange sandstone that comes from the demolition of the city walls of Vilvoorde. The interior of the castle shows many well-preserved elements that were previously executed in Renaissance style, with beautiful carvings and paintings. The structural elements such as the stairs and ceilings were often finished in a combination of cast steel and wood, characteristic of the period in which the castle was built (industrial revolution).
The 18.5 hectare castle park still contains many historical elements such as a moat structure, pond and avenues that converge centrally in a star. Many of these structures date back to at least the 18th century, as they are already visible on the Ferraris maps (1771-1778)

In 2017, the municipality of Bonheiden partially purchased the castle domain. The non-profit organization Foyer De Charité Bonheiden, a lay community of the Catholic Church and the then owner of the domain, also remained joint owner of the domain. Kempens Landschap has taken the entire castle domain on a long lease for a period of 54 years. At the beginning of 2018, Kempens Landschap and the municipality of Bonheiden started drawing up an integrated nature and heritage management plan for the entire Zellaer castle domain.

More information at kempenslandschap.be/nl/kasteel-zellaer

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Kristof Leys

January 30, 2021

The domain probably originated in the thirteenth century as a feudal water castle. Several noble families successively inhabited the castle. The canal and the construction of the park domain are historically very valuable. The path structure and water features were already recorded on the Ferraris map from the eighteenth century. In the park there are some old monumental trees such as Ginko, Pterocarya and Linde that are probably at least 200 years old. The park is therefore protected as a landscape.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the dilapidated castle gave way to a neo-Gothic moated castle. The architect Heugenbaarts may have been inspired by a fifteenth-century French Loire castle for the design. The interior of the castle was also decorated in neo-Gothic style. The castle with drawbridge, battlements and loopholes is an expression of the nineteenth-century spirit of romanticism with nostalgia for a glorious past. In 2001 it was protected as a monument for that reason.

Translated by Google •

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

April 3, 2023

At the end of the nineteenth century, the dilapidated castle made way for a pseudo-medieval moated castle. The castle with drawbridge, battlements and loopholes is an expression of the nineteenth-century spirit of romanticism with nostalgia for a glorious past. In 2001, it was protected as a monument for that reason.

More information at bonheiden.be/kasteel-zellaer

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 70 m

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Location: Bonheiden, Mechelen, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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Zellaer Castle

1. Zellaer Castle – Krankhoeve Forest loop from Bonheiden

2. Krankhoeve Forest – Mispeldonk Nature Reserve loop from Bonheiden-Putsesteenweg

3. Grote & Kleine Vijver – Nekkerspoel Pond loop from Mechelen-Nekkerspoel

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