メイゼの洞窟・トップ20

Simply beautiful castle and forest

Once a sturdy motte castle from the 11th century, Het Steen grew into a beautiful Renaissance castle that played a key role in the defense of Brabant against the Mechelaars for centuries. The castle is picturesquely situated in a meander of the Barebeek, surrounded by old moats and close to the Zenne, and breathes history - from knightly battles to Spanish garrisons. The most famous resident was Peter Paul Rubens, who spent his last summers here, painted, partied with artist friends such as Van Dyck and Teniers, and immortalized the surrounding nature on canvas.

Het Steen and appurtenances (Steendreef 77): protected monument (28/10/1948) in Flemish Renaissance style. Only the facades and roofs of the main building and outbuildings, with the exception of the stables and sheds from the first half of the 19th century, are protected. On the left in front of 't Steen, popularly known as 'Het Rubenskasteel', our attention goes to the second frame. Here we are looking in the direction of Perk where Rubens' friend David Teniers lived. Is that how Rubens saw it in his time? The castle grew out of a motte, a heavy stone residential tower on a hill, surrounded by water. The oldest known owner of the first castle was probably Rudolf van Wilre, who had the Steenvaart or the connection between the Barebeek and the Zenne dug in 1259. Later this was filled in and is now the toevaartdreef. In a deed from 1304 there was mention of a castle in white stone. It was a feudal castle, with towers and moats, like most castles from that time, comparable to the Steen in Antwerp or the Kantersteen in Brussels. As an advanced defense position it played its role for centuries in the wars between the people of Mechelen and Brussels.

This castle has been a ruin since the end of WWII. Work is now being done to prevent it from collapsing further.

The restoration of the castle ruins has started.

More information about the fort can be found at: https://www.fortliezele.be

Educational sign that you can read during your walk. You'll definitely learn something from it.

Het Steen is a castle in the Belgian town of Elewijt and is often also called Het Kasteel van Elewijt or Het Rubenskasteel. It was protected as a monument in 1948. In 2021, the castle was purchased by Toerisme Vlaanderen; it is being converted into meeting rooms and an interactive Rubens experience center.. Source: Wikipedia