Boechout Castle

Boechout Castle, locally known as Kasteel Boechout or Bouchout, lies in the town of Meise, in the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish region in Belgium.

The first castle at this site was built in the 12th century. The oldest part of the remaining castle is the square tower which dates back to the 14th century.

Around 1600 the castle was rebuilt completely by its owner; Christoffel d'Assonleville. He gave the entire domain of castle, moats and gardens, an Italian Renaissance look. At the end of the 16th century the castle was bought by the Roose family.

In 1830 Countess Elisabeth Roose married Count Amedé de Beauffort. He rebuilt the castle into an art museum and redesigned the gardens. This gave the castle its present appearance.

In 1879 the castle was bought by King Leopold II for his sister; Charlotte. She was the widow of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria; the Emperor of Mexico, who had been killed in front of a firing squad in Mexico in 1867. Charlotte took up residence in the castle and due to the death of her husband went insane. She lived here until her death in 1927.

Later the castle was bought by the Belgian state. From 1980 till 1988 the castle was restored.

Boechout Castle is situated in the National Botanic Garden. To enter this garden you have to pay a small fee. The castle itself is now used for conferences and such. You can freely visit several rooms in the west and north wing and the western towers which are used for small art exhibitions.

It's a nice castle in very pleasant surroundings.

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