Crabbenburg Castle

Crabbenburg Castle in Eenbeekstraat in Destelbergen was built between 1821 and '23 by Frans Heynderycx, later senator and the first mayor of Destelbergen.

Heynderycx and architect Van de Capelle were inspired by the villa Rotonda in Vicenza when building it. There was already a building on the estate in the twelfth century, when it was still a farm that was also surrounded by a moat. The castle was clearly built to impress and it still does, with colossal Ionic columns and a pediment depicting Apollo with his solar chariot. The castle has always been privately owned and was inhabited by wealthy Ghent industrialists and later by successful businessmen. The estate is seven hectares in size with landscaped gardens and water features. The main building has a surface area of just over 1,000 square meters. In the building you will find an indoor swimming pool, a library, four lounges, seven bedrooms and six bathrooms. The castle was painted completely white for years, but a recent renovation has ensured that the castle has regained its original warm colors. Everything inside has also been thoroughly renovated, according to the interior architect, completely in Parisian style. Source: De Standaard