Top 18 Castles around Hélécine

The Abbey of La Ramée, located in Jauchelette (Geldenaken), was founded around 1215 by Héluide, abbess of Nijvel. The Cistercian nuns moved in 1216 to the banks of the Great Gete and came under the spiritual authority of the neighboring Abbey of Villers-la-Ville. In the 13th century, the community experienced a period of flourishing thanks to Cistercian mysticism and a highly regarded scriptorium. The abbey managed to acquire a large agricultural area and became very prosperous. However, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the monastery was repeatedly plundered due to wars, forcing the sisters to flee temporarily. In 1706, the English general Marlborough even set up a field hospital there during the Battle of Ramillies. After the French Revolution, the abbey was confiscated in 1796 and sold as national property. The monastic buildings were largely dismantled, but the farm and associated agricultural lands were spared. In 1722, the spectacular tithe barn was built, which is still considered the largest in Belgium today. In 1980, the complex was recognized as exceptional heritage of Wallonia. After a thorough restoration in the 90s, the domain serves as an exclusive venue for seminars and business events.

After the castle was no longer used as a castle, the Chaplains of Labour emerged, who founded the Sint-Janscollege. But the building had other functions during the war years. During the First and Second World Wars, German and American troops occupied the domain, as evidenced by the graffiti left in the tower. In the late 1940s, the buildings were repurposed as a boarding school for war orphans, an initiative of the noble foundation ‘Aide aux Enfants de la Patrie’. And from 1957 onwards, the Chaplains of Labour established a Catholic boys' boarding school and school there. Source: https://sintjanscollegemeldert.be/over-ons/geschiedenis

Both the old and current castle of Meldert underwent major changes after devastating fires. The current castle, although dating from the mid-1840s, underwent drastic changes after a severe fire in 1877. After a fire (1568) had destroyed the donjon or medieval residential tower in the village center, the family of Montenaken, heirs of the knights of Meldert, built a square farmstead, further south and higher up, the old castle. Due to a series of inheritances, the building eventually came into the ownership of Louise van der Noot at the beginning of the 19th century. The severe fire in 1877, which originated on the second floor, caused so much damage to the roof and floors that the land registry considered the castle a ruin. Only in 1882 was it registered again as taxable and thus habitable. Heir Adrien d’Oultremont took advantage of this opportunity to redecorate the building to his taste and that of his time. The harmonious neo-Gothic manor house of Vivroux evolves into a sturdy medieval fortress… More medieval than the Middle Ages. Source and more: https://sintjanscollegemeldert.be/over-ons/geschiedenis

On school days, the castle domain of Meldert is only accessible to students and staff of the Sint-Janscollege. Outside of school hours, the private domain is accessible during the day for those who wish to walk there. And during school holidays, it is certainly worth the effort. You will find some interesting buildings and beautiful natural areas with grasslands, ponds, woods, and boardwalks here and there. And I haven't even mentioned some impressive trees and the interesting history of the garden. The castle of Meldert as it looks now was only recently restored and has been back in use by the school since the beginning of 2026. The renovation began in the summer of 2024 and aimed, among other things, to make the castle more energy-efficient and modern inside. It was built in its current form in the 19th century (based on a design by architect Auguste Vivroux) and served as a residence for Count Adrien d'Oultremont de Duras and his family. The castle, with its older core, consists of a north-south oriented, rectangular volume entirely built of Gobertange stone. There was also a castle here before. The castle of Meldert was first mentioned in written sources from 1572, and there was likely one even before that. The predecessor of the current neo-Gothic castle was demolished in 1845 on the initiative of Countess Vander Noot. The domain was purchased in 1957 by the Aalmoezeniers van de Arbeid, who established the Sint-Janscollege there. The castle, the service wing, and the garden pavilion were protected as monuments in 1993. The park area, which grew into a natural forest, was protected as a village view and partly managed as a nature reserve. During the restoration of the large front salon, the original wall decoration was found hidden behind a monumental mirror. The entire room has been restored to its original state. Photos of the interior and a report about the restored castle can be found at https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/01/05/school-opnieuw-in-kasteel-meldert-hoegaarden/ The rest of the text and information about the details of the building can be found via: Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kasteel Van Meldert, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/200190 Naturally, the municipality of Hoegaarden also pays attention to this special castle with its orangery, chapel, coach house, former stables, and 40-hectare domain. See https://www.lokaalbestuurhoegaarden.be/visit-hoegaarden/bezienswaardigheden/erfgoed/meldert/sint-janscollege-kasteel-van-meldert

The description is very accurate. Thank you.

The Château Rose was built by order of Albert-Pierre Stier (1745-1816). In 1776, he bought the seigniory of Orp, as it had been known since the end of the 17th century, when the land of Orp-le-Grand was merged with that of Orp-le-Petit. The pillory of Orp-le-Petit at the front is one of about fifty in Belgium that are listed by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage. When our country was invaded by France in 1794, the French revolutionaries rushed to abolish the symbols of the Ancien Régime and the pillory was demolished. A few years later, around 1826, Baron Jean-François de Vinck de deux Orp (1774-1827), nephew of the builder of the castle, had the restored elements of the pillory rebuilt on his estate, more specifically in the central part of the meadow below the castle. Source: https://www.orp-jauche.be/wp-content/uploads/Brochure_PetitPatrimoinePopulaire_ORP.pdf

Very beautiful castle

La Ramée Abbey, founded around 1215 by Héluide, is located in Walloon Brabant, at a bend in the Grande Gette River. It was almost entirely rebuilt in the 18th century. In 1796, the Revolution dispersed its community, leading to the abbey's sale in 1799. Today, La Ramée Abbey is used exclusively for hosting business seminars.