Castle of the Dukes of Brabant

Turnhout is one of the few cities in Flanders that has a water castle right in the center. “Yet it was a close call that the castle of the dukes of Brabant was demolished,” says the guide. “Its history dates back to the beginning of the 11th century when it was a country residence or hunting lodge of the dukes. Various rulers have lived here. Among them Maria of Hungary, the sister of Emperor Charles V. She had the castle converted into a Renaissance palace in 1546 to relax amidst the ponds, marshes, and forests that the area still had at that time.”

During the Eighty Years' War, the castle endured a lot of hardship. After the French conquerors, from 1796, it served among other things as a courthouse, prison, monastery, and municipal warehouse. In the 19th century, it fell into disrepair. “Fortunately, the province was able to prevent its demolition in 1908 by buying it and having it restored under the guidance of architect Jules Taeymans.” The castle was protected as a monument in 1936 and still serves as a courthouse today. In the pond, there are three artworks: Ultima Isla by Philip Aguirre, Taxandria by Paul Van Hees, and the Najade by Rik Poot.

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