비어벡‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 천연기념물

Very colorful in autumn...

beautiful forest chapel

The core of Horst Castle probably dates back to the 13th century and is characterised by a square keep. The keep probably belonged to the oldest core that was further expanded into a fortified castle in the 15th century. During the troubles under Maximilian of Austria in 1489, the castle of Horst was taken by the people of Leuven and set on fire. According to literary sources, only the keep, part of the entrance gate and a defensive wall remained standing. The residential and east wing were renovated and expanded in the 16th century. The round tower also dates from this period. The outer wall was provided with a rectangular bay window. The castle lost its military character and became more of a pleasant residential area with a view of the moat, the ponds and the inner courtyard. Brick construction with sandstone layers characterise these buildings. In 1587, however, the castle was set on fire again during the raids of the Geuzen. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that restoration work began. It is difficult to deduce from the available sources to what extent this involved restoration or an embellishing conversion of the castle complex. Presumably nothing changed in the internal structure, but only after the structurally necessary repairs were the interiors completely refinished. Maria-Anna Van den Tympel had a new chapel built against the keep in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the complex must have been damaged by plundering and neglect, and it is possible that it also suffered from plundering during the Brabant Revolution of 1830. Around 1850, the castle must have been habitable again, but the castle buildings only served as a farm. In the land registry, the site around the castle is called "De Notelaren Boomgaerd". Around that time, the most dilapidated part must have been demolished, namely the southern part and the superstructure of the gate. The rest of the complex was probably restored with reused demolition material and in traditional style. The castle was divided in 1880, with one part being registered as a school house. In 1897, a further division followed, with two plots being designated as houses. Several restoration campaigns followed in the 20th century. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Horst Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43619

Since December, there has been a spire on the castle again after the unstable spire was removed more than four years ago and could be viewed on a wooden platform in the pond. Now it is back. And the other works are also progressing quickly. More about the replaced spire on https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/12/10/torenspits-staat-weer-op-kasteel-van-horst-holsbeek/

Very nice area for walking, sometimes challenging.

In 1652, in the middle of the Meerdaalwoud, Lord van Steenbergen had a chapel built on the site where there had previously been a miraculous statue of Mary who cured people suffering from marsh fever.

For those who have traded in their horse for a steel steed. Information boards and such on site.

Although there is speculation in the literature about the presence of vineyards in Wezemaal in the 13th century, there is virtually no evidence for this, certainly not when it comes to the current Wijngaardberg, which was called the Molenberg until the 19th century. The only vineyards in the vicinity consisted of one against the southern flank of the Middelberg and one not far from the mill, so just below the current Heilig-Hartbeeld and belonged to the lordly domain. By the end of the 16th century, these vineyards had disappeared. On two 16th-century maps of the area, nothing but forests, probably consisting of coppice, are depicted on the Wijngaardberg (Minnen 1985). It is only after 1800 that the name Wijngaardberg appears in documents. The Cabinet Map of the Ferraris (1770-1778) does not mention it yet. The cultivation of wine on the Wijngaardberg really started at the beginning of the 19th century and lasted only a very short time. Shortly before 1814, J.F. Audoor from Oudenaarde received permission from Duke Ursel to plant a vineyard on the mountain that has since been called the Wijngaardberg (Avermaete 1999). The cultivation of wine was entrusted to a family of winegrowers from Huy, who brought Audoor to Wezemaal. The southern slope of the Wijngaardberg was chosen because of its orientation, which provided a warmer microclimate, and the subsoil, which proved to be very suitable for wine cultivation. In 1814, approximately 2,000 vines were planted over a length of 1.5 kilometres, originating from well-known French regions such as Champagne, Beaune and Burgundy. Pine stakes and elms were used to plant the vineyard. An earthen wall and an acacia hedge were constructed at the bottom of the vineyard, for which the route of a road was adapted. The vineyard eventually grew to 32 ha. Only now did the ‘mountain’ get its current name: Wijngaardberg. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Wijngaardberg and the agricultural area up to the Parhof, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/135080