Roborst Castle

Tucked away in the heart of picturesque Roborst (Zwalm) lies Roborst Castle , a country house that transports visitors back to the elegant late 18th century.

This castle, also known as the Ridder d'Iweins d'Eeckhoutte , is a beautiful example of early classicist architecture in Belgium and has been protected as a monument and village view since 1996.

The castle, built in 1799 , is a rarity in the region. Its design was inspired by the famous French summer house Château de Bagatelle near Paris. Before 1799, the medieval "seven-tower castle" already stood on this site, of which only the "devil's tower" remains.

Some of the striking features of this classicist masterpiece are the original structure in the form of a pavilion, which explains its elegance and light appearance, and the rear facade, which is special because of the semi-circular central projection , crowned with a large dome and a belvedere (viewing point).

In the early 20th century, the castle was adapted and enlarged with two side projections, giving it the stately shape we see today.

The castle is surrounded by a beautiful 5.5-hectare landscaped park . This estate is a sight in itself: the park is characterized by large ponds fed by the same local springs that make Roborst's unique watercress cultivation possible. In the park, you can still see the remains of a medieval castle that originally stood here. In the 19th century, these ruins were given a romantic touch and serve as a decorative folly.

The former gatehouse of the castle is now the old town hall of Roborst, which emphasizes the link between the manor house and the village center.

Near the castle park lies Hof ten Dale , with an artificial hill behind it containing the ruins of a late medieval castle. The ruins were given a romantic touch in the 19th century. The castle site was probably built in the 11th century by the lords of der Gracht. It consisted of an upper and lower courtyard, which were adjacent to each other.

Willem Vandenameele