Blankaart Castle

The Blankaart Castle is a castle in the west Flemish municipality of Diksmuide, located at Iepersteenweg 54-58.

History[edit | edit source text]

Originally there was a pond here that was created by peat extraction which took place from the 13th century or earlier. Around 1865, Baron Gustaaf de Coninck de Merckem, who had acquired the estate, built a castle designed by Joseph Schadde and executed in eclectic style (with many neo-Renaissance elements). A park was also built with service buildings such as horse stables, coach house and a gardener's house. There was also a vegetable garden and there were greenhouses. At the end of the 19th century, the pond was deepened and a fish pond was built. An ice cellar and a duck cage were also built. The domain, called De Blankaart, was already considered to be of great natural historical value.

During the First World War, the castle was heavily damaged. Only the façade remained. From 1925-1929 it was rebuilt in a smaller and more sober form to a design by Jules Gunst. The original view, with the two round corner towers and the polygonal stair towers, was preserved. During World War II, the spire of both corner towers was destroyed, and never restored.

Present[edit | edit source text]

On rectangular floor plan it is a building of 1920 in red brick with natural stone ornamental elements. The façade is flanked by the two semicircular corner towers, now without a spire. Above the entrance is the coat of arms of the de Coninck de Merckem family, executed in natural stone. To the left of the façade, on the south façade, is the stair tower.

The interior is still largely in the condition of 1920. The castle has a chapel, with three stained glass windows from 1959, made by Michel Martens. The chapel is vaulted by a pointed barrel vault.

The ice cellar and duck cage are still intact. There is also a wrought iron arch bridge and remains of the former sight axes have been preserved.

Sources, notes and/or references

SOURCE : Inventory Immovable Heritage

Joris Broché