Top 8 Castles around Godewaersvelde

A beautiful, spacious park with grassy areas and clumps of woods. Plenty of space for a relaxing break.

Formerly called 'Chalet Schabaillie' after the builder and former resident, brickmaker A. Schabaillie. Mansion with a tower that gives the whole a castle-like appearance. The property stands in the middle of a still partly wooded garden with an L-shaped coach and stable wing to the north of which the facade faces the street. A garden pavilion leans against the garden wall to the northeast. On the street side, there is a low garden wall with a gate between pedestals to the right of the paved driveway. The whole was later divided: the former coach and stable wing now serves as a warehouse, part of the garden on the street side was subdivided and includes low new construction. The eclectic architectural style is characterized, among other things, by the decorative use of yellow and yellow-painted bricks and refers to similar local 'castles' from the same period. Mansion on a rectangular floor plan. Double house of two bays + central tower and entrance risalit of one bay + a wide bay ending in a dormer window with a gable roof, and two storeys under a hipped roof with an iron ridge, decorated with lilies, small dormers, and high chimneys, among other things. A year stone 1900 is incorporated into the gable. Red brick construction with the use of yellow bricks for horizontal facade bands, corner stones, finishing panels, and relieving arches of the Tudor and round arched openings. A wooden loggia is located to the right on the main floor. Tower with three storeys under a truncated pyramidal roof with a lantern under a slate spire. The other facades have a similar facing. On the left side of the rear facade, there is a partly adjoining low extension (kitchen) under a hipped roof (ridge direction perpendicular to the main house, mechanical tiles), in a matching architectural style; conservatory against the garden facade. L-shaped coach and stable wing of one and a half storeys under a gable roof with mechanical tiles. The striking corner tower with a slate spire is crowned with iron decoration, referring to the ridge of the mansion. The inscription 'Anno 1914' is incorporated into the plastered casement of the dormer window. Analogous brick architecture; additional decorative motifs of yellow brick, including St. Andrew's crosses. The street facade is a variation on the traditional gable facade: the stepped gable with a Bruges bay, and the central arched coach gate above which is a round arched window crowned with a cross of yellow brick. The garden pavilion against the northeast garden wall is a variation on the medieval dovecote type. Octagonal low building under a slightly constricted spire (slate) with wooden dormers. Matching architectural style. Source: DELEPIERE A.-M. & HUYS M. 1989: Inventory of cultural heritage in Belgium, Architecture, Province of West Flanders, District of Ypres, Canton Poperinge, Building through the centuries in Flanders 11n2, Brussels - Turnhout. Authors: Delepiere, Anne Marie; Huys, Martine Date: 1989 Text made available by: Agency for Immovable Heritage (AOE) Additional information Number 20 forms the last part of the stable wing. The part facing the street has since been demolished, but the rear part with the tower is still preserved. Information obtained from the Intermunicipal Immovable Heritage Service CO7 (July 29, 2021). Authors: Jacobs, Els Date: 11-04-2022 Text made available by: Agency for Immovable Heritage (AOE)

a nice little walk...

superb park to visit with the family

The panoramic terrace of the Château de Cassel offers a breathtaking view of the Flanders plain. You can see the mill, the monument of the Three Battles and the old crypt. All are emblematic places of the site. On the way back down the alpine ramp, a tavern awaits walkers for a friendly break.

At 176 metres high, this is the highest point in the area. It is a former castle terrace and until 1788, the St. Peter's Church stood here, of which remains of the crypt are still present. The belvedere is also a viewpoint. The Roman highways that can be seen from here and that fan out in all directions are spectacular.

From 1 June to 29 September 2024, the region will host the land art festival "ArtPenteurs". One of the works is "M for Marguerite", of course placed here in the park. (If you are standing with your back to the villa: about 50 metres further on, turn left)

Marguerite Yourcenar (1903-1987), the celebrated writer of, among others, "Het hermetisch zwart" (The Hermetic Black) and "Hadrianus' Herinnerschriften", refers to this place of her youth in many of her works. In interviews towards the end of her life, she repeatedly stated that it was her wish to protect this piece of nature. This was worked on from 1986 onwards. The villa in the 50-hectare park is now a writer's residence. In the vicinity of the villa there are many signs with quotes from famous authors.