From Gemp Farm to a luxurious castle
This historic castle became very famous in the TV series “We, gentlemen of Zichem”. It was Mr. Parmentier's home. But the story goes back much further. There used to be a tenant farm on this site that belonged to the female branch of the Premonstratensians, the Premonstratensian monastery of Gempe in Sint-Joris-Winge. That is why people spoke of the Gemp Farm for five hundred years: from 1290 to 1798. This tenant farm provided food for the hamlet and the nuns of the Gempe monastery.
In 1860, the Schollaert family had a luxurious castle built on this location. Daughter Louise Schollaert even opened a school for the neighborhood children. Since the castle came into the hands of the Cruysberghs tailor family in 1956, it immediately lost its closed character and the doors were thrown open to everyone from the neighborhood who wanted to celebrate a party there. This rental provided additional income for the restoration. The overgrown orchard grew into a campsite and later into a residential park. Today you can buy an artisanal ice cream in the castle park during the summer months.
Contact info
Address
Posted 115
2430 Laakdal
E-mail address
info@lwgh-laakdal.be
Additional information
Meerlaer Castle