Tower castle

Ruin of the tower castle built in 1170 by Louis I, Count of Loon, as a fortified outpost against the city of Sint-Truiden. In 1178 it was taken by Sint-Truiden and partially destroyed. After restoration, the castle was again burned down in 1346 by the inhabitants of Sint-Truiden in their battle against the prince-bishop Engelbert van der Marck. During the battle of Brustem (1467), the people of Liège entrenched themselves in the castle. In 1489, the castle was taken during the feud between the Van der Marck family and Jan van Hoorn and finally demolished. After that, the tower was used as a dovecote for a while and was further demolished by the soldiers of Louis XIV. In the following centuries, the ruin was used as a quarry (building materials).The original octagonal tower stood on an artificial mound, surrounded by a moat. Built of Lincent stone, with flint facing for the ground floor, replaced by brick after 1500. The tower had five floors; the holes in the floor beams have been preserved, together with three air slots.The entrance and the hidden staircase that connected the floors were located in the disappeared half. The numerous holes in the interior were cut when the castle served as a dovecote.A large part of the castle moats are still present, as are the foundations of the square tower on the outer bailey.The current church is located within the ramparts and replaces the former castle chapel, which was built together with the outer bailey in 1171.Beautiful landscape formed by the tower ruins, the church with cemetery, the ramparts and the surrounding orchards.Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Donjon van Brustem, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/23074

Old castle, from the year 1170, has been restored several times but still nothing. Is maintained by the association "the castle guard"

The castle was built in 1170 by Count Louis I of Loon, at that time still directed against the city of Sint-Truiden, which was initially under the influence of the Prince-Bishopric of Metz, which in turn was allied to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1178 the castle was taken by Sint-Truiden and partially destroyed. Although the castle was restored, it was destroyed again in 1347 by Sint-Truiden, which resisted Prince-Bishop Engelbert van der Mark of Liège. Also in 1467 (Battle of Brustem) and in 1489 in the battle between the Van der Mark family and Prince-Bishop Johan van Horne. In that year the castle was finally destroyed. The keep was used for a while as a dovecote, and then further destroyed by the troops of Louis XIV (1672) and then used for a while as a quarry. In 1956 the remains were classified as a monument, and the surroundings as a landscape. The ruins are currently maintained by the association "De Burchtwacht".