Top 19 Castles around Bekkevoort

At the public sale in 1798, Ter Lenen came into the hands of the Coenen family from Zoutleeuw, who remained the owner continuously until 1963. The Primitive Cadastral Map, drawn by surveyor Denis in 1827, shows a completely changed picture compared to the Ferraris Map. The farm complex has been reduced to two wings, and in place of the southeastern part of the partially filled moat is a new, almost square volume, identifiable as the current small castle. Nothing remains of the ring moat on the Ferraris Map. The small castle faces a jagged, elongated pond in the northwest direction, originally perhaps a brick clay pit, but a "pleasure pond" of 34.5 acres according to the Primitive Cadastre, which suggests the existence of an early landscape garden, a 'jardin anglais'. Between 1800 and 1820 (with a focus around 1810), numerous gardens and parks in the region – mostly limited in surface area and formal, regular, geometric, 'French' or whatever they were called – were given a new, 'irregular' look. The undulating contours of the water features, widenings, swellings, and sudden constrictions – often these are dammed and widened streams and canals, sometimes excavation pits – are typical of this early romantic or early landscape design. The "pleasure pond" was, strangely enough, surrounded by utilitarian plots in 1827 according to the cadastral register: orchard, meadow, garden-without-more, and even ordinary arable land around the small castle. The 320 m long and 15 m wide strip plot was an avenue that opened from the southeast near the farm buildings. It connected Ter Lenen via the Oppenstraat with the village center of Rummen and formed the main access. The current access road from the southwest, marked on the Verdaelstraat by a gate with two pillars of red and sintered brick and a flanking fence, was built around 1880 (the initials 'VC' incorporated in the ironwork stand for the then owner Victor Coenen), but the monumental, blue stone round arch gate with grooved frame testifies to the original importance of the northeastern access, although this gate is part of a stable wing built around 1897. Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed: Garden of the Ter Lenen country house, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/134181

The Ter Lenen estate is located on the right bank of the Melsterbeek, in the middle of meadow and pastureland. Until the French Revolution, the Ter Lenen farm was part of the extensive possessions of the Cistercian abbey of Oriënte, located slightly further south, which had bought the "curia de Leenen" in 1240, together with 52.5 bunders or more than 60 ha of arable land and pasture, from a certain Rolin de Lare. In the 14th century, Ter Lenen was an important exploitation, as the farm included two barns, two sheepfolds and a horse stable. On the Ferraris map, the "cense Ter Lenen" is depicted as a complex of detached buildings on a moated, rectangular 'island'. A vegetable garden occupied most of the northern half of this island. Meadows, high-stem orchards and arable land formed the wider setting. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Garden of the Ter Lenen country house, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/134181

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/

Behind Fort Leopold there is a nice steep single track towards Schaffen airport.

Here you pass the Ter Lenen country house.

Whatever the future brings, the fact remains that the castle domain is very beautiful to walk in. Tip the glaze walk of Visit Vlaams-Brabant (https://www.visitvlaamsbrabant.be/wandelen/vind-een-wandeling/vlakwandeling)

An old fort that dates from the war. If there is a guide you can visit it. Really worth it. When you are on top of the fort you have a view over the entire city of Diest. In the fort also live a lot of bats.