Castles around Torhout

In Torhout you cycle past Ravenhof Castle. With its surrounding park, this is one of the most beautiful places in Torhout. The current building is said to have been built on foundations from the period between the 13th and 15th centuries. It was originally a walled estate with an upper and lower courtyard, which was inhabited by various notable families. The castle fell into disrepair from 1960 onwards, but was renovated by the city in the early 1990s. Now you will find the Torhout Tourist Office, the Museum for Torhout Pottery and the Municipal Guild Chamber.

The impressive Wijnendale castle is a moated castle surrounded by an extensive park and forest. The castle was built in the 11th century as a round, fortified, walled castle with eleven towers and three large, detached keeps. In 1811, the French government had the castle, which had now fallen into ruins, demolished. The current castle is largely a 19th century reconstruction. Part of the water castle is inhabited and part is accessible to the public as a museum.

The next castle on your route is Daertrycke, or d\\\\\\\\\\\\'Aertrycke. The neo-Gothic castle was built between 1868 and 1871 by August de Maere, hence its nickname De Maeres Castle. Part of the domain is publicly accessible, and you can stroll around in a romantic garden with a large pond and through the meadows and forests. Today the castle houses a hotel and conference center.