이스트 플랑드르‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 동굴

Porta Arboreti; 14세기에 기원을 둔 Ooidonk 성 영지의 일부였으며 당시 성 영지로의 접근을 형성했던 기념비적인 입구이자 이전의 비둘기 탑.

평온함과 웅장함만 지나치더라도 무언가는 남습니다. 또한 Nokere에서 분명히 필요할 에너지를 조금 얻게 됩니다.

Wissekerke Castle...

The gate also serves as a bridge over the Kalebeek stream. The north facade of the gate (facing the church) features, in addition to the date 1864, the coat of arms of the t'Kint de Roodenbeke family, who acquired the castle that year (and still own it).

Few buildings in the Waasland region hold such a mythical allure as the Graventoren (Counts' Tower) in Rupelmonde. The names associated with it certainly contribute to that. This tower, for example, is the remnant of a moated castle with no fewer than 17 towers, once owned by the Counts of Flanders. This colossal fortress protected the Scheldt River from attackers and conquerors. Mercator's Dungeon Mercator also plays a key role in this story. When he shared his revolutionary insights with the world, he was promptly sent to the dungeon by the church authorities. Guess where that dungeon was located? Exactly, in the cellars of the Graventoren. Here he was imprisoned for seven months, accused of heresy. A Bloody History Mercator, however, was not the only one to enter the cellars of the moated castle. Many dissidents suffered the same fate, and often worse. A stay in the dungeons of the Graventoren (Counts' Tower) often ended with a bloody decapitation. While the Counts of Flanders may have enjoyed legendary status in history, they were certainly not gentlemen. Count Robert of Bethune once even threw his own son in jail here, accused of high treason. A kind of chamber arrest before its time, you might say. At the end of the 17th century, the moated castle came to an end. The fortress was drastically destroyed, and the rubble was reused for other buildings. For example, the church of Rupelmonde was built with materials from the castle ruins.

Unfortunately the tower was not open, but it is still a beautiful site to walk past. A nice surprise and definitely worth taking a detour from your route.

Remains of the 12th century moated castle built by the Counts of Flanders to defend the Scheldt and the Rupel.

The last baroness (also mayor of Poeke, which at the time was still a separate municipality), Ines Pycke de Peteghem, bequeathed the castle in her will to the National Work of Catholic School Colonies (NWKS). After her death in 1955, the castle served for a long time as a holiday camp for young children from (often rather vulnerable) families of workers and small business owners (NWKS later became "Duinen-Heide"). Later, the local playground found a home here. The castle also served as a venue for classical concerts, among other events. I remember an "Interludium" (a short segment produced by the then BRT to fill the gaps between programs) being recorded here. Poetry evenings (under the banner: "The Closer the Better") featuring artists such as Simon Vinkenoog and Ivo Van Strijtem were also held here. And now in 2025 the castle expects the 22nd edition of the East Flanders Biennale of Contemporary Art.