Court of Rameyen

At junction 76, we see in the distance the Hof van Rameyen, a water castle with an old core dating back to the 13th century. “The castle was built by the Berthout family. One of its most famous residents was Nicolaas Rubens, the second son of Peter Paul Rubens, who spent his last years there. The castle is now owned by the Van Gansewinkel family,” says Jef.

The castle is surrounded by water and is connected to the castle avenue by a drawbridge. “It has no less than ten bedrooms, but the most impressive is the chapel. There lies a unique majolica tiled floor from the 16th century, possibly the oldest such floor in the Benelux.” The farm is architectural heritage. It dates from the second quarter of the 18th century. The former lord of the castle, Petrus Josephus Legrelle, and his wife Maria Josepha Van Den Bol also built the Chapel of Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted here. You can see that on the stone on the floor of the chapel.

GVA - Gazet van Antwerpen