テッセンデルロの洞窟・トップ13

フォート・レオポルドは19世紀、ディエスト周辺の防衛線にとって重要な一部でした。ラザリイベルクに位置し、街の素晴らしい眺めだけでなく、少し離れた場所にある城塞の眺めも楽しめます。この要塞は街を守ることを目的としていましたが、使用開始からわずか数年後に刑務所に改造されました。ルーヴェン刑務所の罰せられた兵士たちがこの要塞に移送されました。壁に残る文字は、当時の静かな証人として今も残っています。第一次・第二次世界大戦中にも囚人が収容されました。この要塞は20世紀後半に空挺部隊によって使用されましたが、彼らは20年以上前に撤退しました。それ以来、建物を維持しているのは管理人だけです。1996年に保護記念碑となりました。建物は数十万個のレンガで造られ、非常に厚い壁を持っているため、非常に寒くて暗く、現在の所有者である自然・森林庁によれば、コウモリにとって理想的な生息地となっています。

Over the years, the castle was modernized and updated. This included the tower, whose heavy line of the fortified wall was broken by irregular window and door arrangements. The castle still houses remarkable works of art. The neo-Gothic armory houses a cast-iron stove from 1539 and two marble Renaissance mantelpieces. The castle also contains important paintings, tapestries, gold leather wallpaper, and furniture in a variety of styles. (Municipality of Westerlo)

The castle, built between 1909 and 1911 and designed by P. Langerock, was occupied by the Germans during World War II and later became a retirement home for priests. Since 1973, it has served as a town hall with a surrounding municipal park between Boerenkrijglaan, Hollandse dreef, and Merodedreef. The surrounding park features a neo-traditional gatehouse (number 63) and a gardener's house (Hollandse dreef numbers 1-3); and also includes a former sheepfold and pump house. The park surrounding the castle was transformed into an ornamental garden after World War I by the then gardener, F. Verrezen. In front of the castle: a fountain, dating from 1995 and designed by Architektuur Atelier BVBA. (Inventory of Immovable Heritage)

If a town hall can really be beautiful...

Behind Fort Leopold there is a nice steep single track towards Schaffen airport.

An old fort that dates from the war. If there is a guide you can visit it. Really worth it. When you are on top of the fort you have a view over the entire city of Diest. In the fort also live a lot of bats.

The castle of Jeanne de Merode serves as a town hall.

Very dilapidated castle, but the castle farm is still habitable and well maintained.