Castle of Kerkom (Alstergoed)

Kerkom Castle (also: Alstergoed) is a castle at Kerkstraat 6 in Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden.This castle was the seat of the Lords of Kerkom. The name Alstergoed, therefore, comes from the Van Alsteren family, who were Lords of Kerkom from the late 14th century until 1675. The Van Schoor family, owners from 1707 to 1774, had a classical castle built. In 1889, the then owner, Baron F. de Moffart, built a new castle in the eclectic style just northwest of that castle. The classical castle was largely demolished. Only the northeast wing and the eastern corner towers remained. These were the servants' quarters and the carriage house.The two buildings are situated in a park. There is a terraced garden and, on each of the two corners, an octagonal garden pavilion dating from 1760.

Former seat of the lordship of Kerkom, named after the van Alsteren family, lords of Kerkom from the late 14th century to 1675. Subsequently, the Henrix, Everarts, and de Seroots families, and from 1707 to 1774, the van Schoor family, builders of the classical castle, held this title.In 1889, the current eclectic castle was built northwest of that castle, commissioned by a later heir, Baron F. de Moffart; the classical castle was then demolished, with the exception of the northeast wing and the eastern corner towers. Both buildings are situated within a spacious, wooded park with a pond, east of the church and north of Cicindria and Aalsterstraat; a terrace with two garden pavilions separates the two buildings.The remaining old wing served as the carriage house with servants' quarters. It has two stories under a hipped saddleback roof (artificial slate). It is constructed of brick with limestone used for the frames and cornerstones. Facade overlooking the former state square.To the southwest, the beginning of a former perpendicular wing, finished with reused materials after demolition: arched window with a trapezoidal keystone and a rectangular doorframe with a cornice. The rear facade faces the park, with a projecting section of four bays and two stories under the aforementioned hipped roof; a deeper bay of the same height as the connecting element with the tower.Corner tower of one bay and three stories under a mansard roof (slate) with a small pear spire. Aligning corner blocks. On the southwest side, on the second story, an arched cross window with an anchored trapezoidal keystone; on the third story, a segmental arch window in a flat anchored frame with beveled upper corners and a trapezoidal keystone.To the northwest, a terraced garden with a small, octagonal garden pavilion under a mansard roof (slate) on the two corners, north and west. A Classical building from 1760. Arched limestone windows and doors.Further northwest, the eclectic castle with three-bay, two-story cornice facades under a mansard roof (artificial slate) with hipped dormers and corner turrets. A brick building with abundant use of natural stone for window and door frames, lintels, and borders.Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kerkom Castle, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/84286