Jonckholt Castle

Jonckholt Castle, locally known as Kasteel van Jonckholt, lies in a forest north of the village of Hoelbeek, in the Limburg province in the Flemish region in Belgium.

The earliest evidence of occupation at this site dates back to around 1200 AD. On an artificially elevated area near Meers Creek, a farm constructed from wood, marl, and silex was built. The farm was surrounded by a moat and accessible via a drawbridge.

By the early 14th century, the wooden settlement was transformed into a square stone fortification with circular towers, loopholes, and a double moat protected by an earthen defensive wall. For reasons unknown, the site was abandoned in the mid-16th century. Later, in the 17th century, it was used as a quarry for building materials for nearby Groenendaal Castle.

Today, the ruins of Jonckholt Castle are open to the public. There isn't much to see, but it sits in a peaceful, lush green setting. The black stones on the grass mark the locations where postholes for the farm buildings were found during archaeological excavations.

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