CASTLES TORHOUT

Ravenhof Castle, also known as Ravens Court, is a walled country house located at the edge of Torhout's city center, with origins likely dating to the 13th-15th centuries. After the original structure was destroyed, the current building was rebuilt on its foundation in the 16th century and subsequently modified during the 17th and 18th centuries. The castle served various industrial purposes in the 19th and early 20th centuries before being restored by local authorities in 1989 and converted into a tourist information office. Today the castle adjoins a landscape garden featuring exotic trees such as swamp cypress and European yew, with ramparts transformed into reflecting water gardens, while the first floor houses the Museum of Torhout Pottery.

Wijnendale Castle in Torhout possesses rich historical significance, with its origins tracing to the 11th century when Robert I, Count of Flanders, established it as a military base. The present structure largely dates to the 19th-century reconstruction undertaken by banker Josse-Pierre Matthieu between 1837 and 1852, who restored the medieval aesthetic. The castle holds poignant historical moments, including the deaths of Marie of Burgundy following a riding accident in 1482 and a final cabinet meeting held by Belgian King Leopold III in 1940 before the German invasion. Located 4 kilometers from Torhout, one wing remains inhabited by current owners while another functions as a museum open to public visits.

Castle d'Aertrycke is a neo-Gothic manor built between 1869 and 1874 in Torhout, Belgium, designed by Antwerp architect Jozef Schadde for harbor developer August de Maere. Set within 98 hectares of romantic grounds featuring a large pond, meadows, and oak-lined forests, the estate's landscape was designed by renowned garden architect Louis Fuchs. Originally a private domain, it was acquired by West Flanders provincial government in 2012 and now operates as a luxury hotel, restaurant, and conference center. The castle and surrounding parkland remain accessible to the public year-round, blending historical grandeur with contemporary hospitality.