オプウェイクの洞窟・トップ20

Simply beautiful castle and forest

The eye-catcher of the Grote Markt is undoubtedly the belfry, which includes the old town hall and the district house. Together, they form a unique historical ensemble. The old town hall, dating from 1225, is the oldest preserved town hall in the Netherlands, recognizable by its high gable roof and round corner towers. The belfry was added in 1407 and is notable for its elegant octagonal tower with an open gallery. Inside, one of the oldest working carillons in the Netherlands hangs, which still resounds through the city every fifteen minutes. The tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. On the facade, you can see the motto "Nec spe nec metu" ("without hope, nor fear"), and the statues of the Counts of Flanders and Aalst. The clock face, dating from 1964, earned the tower the nickname "den Tettentoeren" (the Tette Towers) because of its striking shape. The district house, a late Gothic extension, was for centuries the place where the bailiff promulgated laws to the people. Five statues adorn the facade, including Justitia, Emperor Charles V, and Pieter Coecke, court painter and Aalst resident. Today, the city council still meets there monthly.

The closed castle farm dates from the 17th and 18th centuries but has more recent appurtenances. (Wikipedia)

The castle of Imde in the Flemish village of Imde (in the municipality of Meise) is a neoclassical castle from the 19th century. The associated closed castle farm dates from the 17th and 18th centuries but has more recent appurtenances. The whole is situated in the middle of an extensive estate with parks, meadows and ponds. The Molenbeek flows through the castle estate. (Wikipedia)

Currently under renovation. Unclear if this castle will remain accessible to the public.

The neoclassical building from the 19th century was largely destroyed by a fire in February 2016. The then owners did not want to renovate the castle and put it up for sale. Only in 2020 were the castle (with a living area of approximately 900m²) and the domain of approximately 7 hectares (with pond and moat) sold ... for around 2.4 million. Source: https://goeiedag.be/meise/2020/03/kasteel-van-imde-vier-jaar-na-zware-brand-verkocht/

History: Kruikenburg used to be a manor and later a county in Brabant. The manor consisted of the current municipality of Ternat together with the sub-municipalities of Wambeek and Lombeek. At the beginning of the 12th century, the lords of Wezemaal, whether or not on behalf of the duke in Leuven, tried to seize the forests and lands of Wambeek. Architecture: Kruikenburg is an imposing classicist castle that originally dates from the 12th century. The castle, like many other medieval defensive castles, has a U-shape. This U is formed by three wings surrounding a courtyard. There are round towers on the corners. Only the entrance tower is square. Name: The peculiar name 'Kruikenburg' is because there used to be a rough stone-cut jar with a weather bar on the top of the square entrance tower and the three round towers.

Beautiful view of Hof te Melis. The winter months and spring offer the most beautiful views of the old Hof te Melis. Hof te Melis is a protected landscape due to its scientific, historical, and aesthetic value. It is a castle with a moat. The castle is built in the Neo-Renaissance style. A turbulent historical past... Before the First World War, the castle consisted of a forecourt, surrounded by outbuildings and with access to a courtyard. When the German army entered Lippelo in 1914, the domain was occupied by the invaders. It then came under fire from Fort Bornem. Hof te Melis partially burned down. It was rebuilt in 1920, deviating from the original floor plan. The outbuildings and gatehouse remain intact. At this location, you can thus glimpse a powerful past.