Beauvoorde Castle

Beauvoorde Castle, locally known as Kasteel Beauvoorde, lies in the village of Wulveringem, in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish region in Belgium.

Beauvoorde Castle was built by Jacob de Bryarde, bailiff of Veurne, around 1600. It replaced an earlier non-fortified mansion dating back to the 12th century, which was burned down by Beggars in 1584. The castle was built by the architect Sylvain Boullain in the Flemish Renaissance style.

The last member of the Bryarde family was Charles. His heirs, who rather resided in Ghent, showed little interest in the castle, and it fell into disrepair. In 1838, it was sold to a farmer, who carried out some emergency restorations and used it as a farm. In the late 19th century, plans were made to demolish the again dilapidated castle.

In 1875, however, the ruined Beauvoorde Castle was purchased by 23-year-old esquire Arthur Merghelynck. Through his mother, he was a distant descendant of the Bryarde family. Merghelynck was passionate about history and a collector. Over the next 20 years, he rebuilt and expanded the castle. He then decorated it with authentic and faux 17th-century furniture, giving it more grandeur than it had ever possessed. In 1895, he moved in with his wife.

Since his wife was a simple farmer's daughter, their marriage had estranged him from his family. They remained childless, so in 1905 Merghelynck drew up his will, leaving the castle to the Royal Academy of Dutch Language and Literature. He died in 1908. His wife continued to live in the castle until her death in 1941, after which it was transferred to the academy.

Today, Beauvoorde Castle functions as a museum open to the public for an entry fee. It is a charming little castle. The small rooms and corridors create a cozy atmosphere. Torreelen Castle is nearby.

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