Top 20 Castles around Zulte

Porta Arboreti; monumental entrance gate and former dovecote belonging to and once forming access to the Ooidonk castle domain, which originates in the 14th century.

Even if you only pass through, the tranquility and grandeur still leave something behind. It also gives you a bit of energy that you will certainly need in Nokere.

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).

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.

The castle has a fascinating history, with the first mentions dating back to the 12th century. It belonged to various noble owners, including the de Preudhomme d’Hailley family and the Pycke de Peteghem family, until the municipal authorities purchased it in 1977. Since September 1, 2021, Tourism Flanders has owned the castle and its estate. The Poeke castle park is a wooded 56-hectare park featuring a truly magnificent neoclassical castle. The gardens are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Original country house built by the Ghent architect L. Roelandt who owned the old "Goed ten Ast" in 1834 and drew the plans for his country residence on the south side of it. According to the land registry archives, it was completed around 1850. Subsequently adapted several times, including around 1900 and in 1920 by the then owner, the Ghent industrialist G. Van Oost. Current condition is the result of renovations in 1958 designed by architect F. Bonaert. Castle with appurtenances including a belvedere tower and greenhouses beautifully planted on the slope above the stream valley with a landscaped rose garden to the west and a park with ponds in landscape style, accessible via a gate on the Korte Aststraat, connected to the Lange Aststraat with monumental closure with iron chains between square pedestals with garden vases. More recent entrance gate on the village square of Mullem (Oudenaarde). (Immovable Heritage Inventory)

Poeke Castle is a castle near Poeke, a sub-municipality of Aalter in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The building is completely surrounded by water and is accessible via a bridge from both the front and the back. It is unknown when the first castle was built on site, but Poeke was already mentioned in 1139. The building did play an important role in the conflict between Louis of Male and the people of Ghent in 1382. In the same year, Eulaard II van Poeke was killed when he led the count's troops at the battle of the Beverhoutsveld against the advance of the Ghent militia. who had tried to stop his castle. The lords of Poeke were loyal vassals of the Count of Flanders. For example, Anastasia van Oultre, second wife of Eulard III of Poeke, remarried Robert of Flanders, bastard son of Louis of Male. In 2021, the municipality of Aalter sold the castle to Tourism Flanders for a symbolic amount.

The "de Gerlache" after which the castle - officially called "Den Ast" - is often called is Gaston de Gerlache, mayor of Mullem for 3 legislatures, but above all an explorer. In 1957-1958 he led the second Belgian expedition to Antarctica, 60 years after his father led the first with the Belgica. During this second expedition, in which the Polarhav and the Polarsirkel took them to Antarctica, the King Baudouin base was established there. During the next expedition, led by Guido Derom, a 2,400 meter high mountain in Antarctica was named after Gaston de Gerlache. Another fact about the castle: an emperor penguin, Hans, brought along from the expedition, who was housed in the Antwerp Zoo, was given a place in the castle after his death. Sources: Wikipedia https://www.kruisem.be/kasteel-de-gerlache-huise