Saint Joseph Church Castle

The hamlet of Kastel is bordered by the Schelde on three sides. Initially, it was a marshland with some elevations such as the Ganzenberg and Stuyfbergen, which was flooded daily by the tides. In the 13th century, the lord of Moerzeke called upon the abbey of Hemiksem, one of the wealthiest abbeys in Western Europe, to reclaim Kastel (4). In return for their work, they were gifted the village 'Ghastella' or Kastel. Some inner dikes or elevated walking paths may still date back to this period.
Kastel only became a separate parish around 1875 with the construction of the St. Joseph's Church between 1875-1877. It is a neo-Gothic (6) basilica cruciform church designed by the Ghent architect G. Hoste.

Ganzenberg 6 9220 Kastel
To visit: Daily: 09:00-18:00.

Reclamation (4)
During the reclamation of an area located by a river or along the coast, a strip of land that is normally periodically flooded by the tides is rendered usable through the construction of dikes, ditches, and locks. Sometimes mills were built to pump excess water out of the area. The significant disadvantage of building dikes is that the river experiences a greater drop in height, potentially leading to dike breaches as a consequence. The large abbeys were very often involved in the construction of the first dikes in the Middle Ages due to their capital and organizational capability.

Neo-Gothic (6)
An extremely popular architectural style for churches in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is inspired by medieval Gothic, characterized by vertical lines and pointed arches, and was seen as the true Christian style. The building is conceived as a total work of art where architecture, interior, and furnishings form a cohesive whole. The orientation of the church, as well as many decorative elements, are imbued with ancient symbolism. Many neo-Gothic churches were colorfully painted on the inside. Unfortunately, these vibrant interiors are often covered today by a layer of white plaster.

Stichting Open Kerken