Park de Ghellinck Elsegem

At the foot of the Flemish Ardennes, in the picturesque Elsegem, a sub-municipality of Wortegem-Petegem, Koen and Delphine welcome you to their restaurant - tearoom, which is located in the coach house of the Domain de Ghellinck. With a view of the pond of the former castle and an old Scheldt arm, you can enjoy the many dishes that Koen prepares behind his stove. In the summer, it is wonderful to relax on the recently renovated terrace where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. After a healthy walk in the park, you can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, sweet treats or a strong pint. There is something for everyone: small dishes, daily menu, a la carte, seasonal dishes and menus. There is a family atmosphere where Delphine ensures a smooth and neat service. There is also a separate room for family parties. On 12 August 1718, Jean-Baptiste X De Ghellinck appeared on the scene. He bought a number of lordships, including 'Ten Doorne' and 'Ter Schelden'. The feudal castle also became his property. Since he and his family now owned the largest part of Elsegem, they became Lords of Elsegem. The family remained connected to Elsegem until the 20th century. When purchased, the feudal castle had a round tower, a hexagonal castle tower and a sally port at the end of the drawbridge. A large part of it was in urgent need of repair, something that Jean-Baptiste X immediately started.
Three years after acquiring the castle, Jean-Baptiste X died. It was not until many years later, when Jean-Baptiste XI succeeded his father Adrien-Xavier, that the repairs and renovations were continued. In 1792, Louis XVI declared war on Francis II of Austria. The castle fell victim to plundering. Charles, the son of Jean-Baptiste XI, is mayor of Elsegem in 1808. His spendthrift grandson Frédéric forces his sisters to sell the castle domain in 1855. Frédéric's uncle, (also) Charles, buys the domain back that same year. By purchasing many adjacent plots of land, he considerably enlarges the domain. He also wants to thoroughly renovate the castle, but his advanced age prevents him from doing so. He gives his eldest son Ernest the sum of 140,000 Bfr. to build a completely new castle.
And so it happens. The new castle is built on the island in the park pond. During the First World War, the castle is shelled by both the English and retreating Germans. The occupiers also damage the castle in World War II. In 1973, disaster strikes. On a very foggy morning, a fire is noticed around 5 am. The entire upper floor of the castle is destroyed. The castle fire still raises questions. Is it because the fire broke out the morning after the last removal van had disappeared on the horizon? Or is it more related to the large number of people who benefited from the fire? The fact is that the speculation mill started and never stopped. The most recent attempt to revive the investigation dates from 1983. Unfortunately without result ...
The lord of the castle did not accept a proposal to use the insurance money to restore the castle into a country house based on the Italian model. The estate was purchased by the municipality on 18 March 1975. Some time later, the castle was completely demolished.
All that remains are the outbuildings. They were restored and will remind us of times long past. Text and photos: ELSEGEM voorbij (published by the Elsegem party committee)