Bouchout Castle

The origins of the glorious domain of Boechout, which was directly under the authority of the Duke of Brabant, date back to the High Middle Ages. It probably originated as a defense post in the battle against the lords of Grimbergen, the Berthout family. The first castle was built by Willem van Crainhem in the 12th century and, according to various sources, was converted by Daniel I around 1300 into a water lock with a drawbridge. Witness to this is the preserved keep with loopholes and small windows. Around 1600, the castle, which had fallen into disrepair at the time, was heavily restored; a drawing by Jean-Baptiste Gramaye of 1606 shows a closed moated castle on a rectangular plan with a defensive tower at each corner. Despite the usual maintenance and renovation works, the castle remained almost intact until the early 19th century. At the time of Count Amadée de Beauffort, more precisely in the period 1832-1840, the castle acquired its current architectural design. The whole then underwent a thorough neo-Gothic renovation, in line with the romantic ideas of that period.
(Inventory of Immovable Heritage)

Our story begins in the 12th century with the Knights of Bouchout. The square tower that still stands today dates from that period. Later, the castle grew into a true fortress. Its residents were notables who left their mark on Belgian history. Around the French Revolution, the castle was thoroughly renovated. The castle grounds were transformed into an English landscape garden with exotic plants from the New World, ponds, and "follies." Much of this remains today.
Nearly a century later, King Leopold II's sister, "Empress" Charlotte, the widow of Maximilian of Austria, Emperor of Mexico, moved in. She had the grounds adorned with remarkable trees. In 1939, the Botanical Garden was established here.
The castle houses a permanent exhibition about the history of the estate and its inhabitants. You can visit the keep, and from the roof terrace, you have a magnificent view. Admission to the castle is included in the Botanical Garden entrance ticket. More information at plantentuinmeise.be/nl/pQxjzHK/kasteel-van-bouchout