Tuesday, April 27, 2010

MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL CORROY LE CHATEAU

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On Saturday I returned to the middle age. There was a very beautiful medieval festival in the court and around the castle of Corroy le Chateau. It was built between 1220 and 1230 and is one of the best-preserved medieval buildings in Belgium, with gigantic round towers and a moat. The parc around measures 12 hectares.

The castle its entrance and the horse stables

The court inside the castle where the different shows took place

and in the parc in white tents

Artisans and craftmen showed their know how

Of course there was also a lot to eat and drink and quiet a lot of Belgian beers were represented

The reader and the writer

sausages and cheese

A fight with swords

a fashion show of the 14th and 15th century. I noticed that all men wore dresses or skirts !

There was a couple showing their falcons

and another one their pythons. The white snake is an albino python, very soft skin, I petted it.

and from all what I have seen this owl (?) impressed me the most ! It had such big orange eyes, that they almost look photoshopped ! but I swear they really had this color !

The castle and the parc around seemed so beautiful to me that I will go back there. The castle is still furnished and you can visit it on Sundays.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

THE GAASBEEK CASTLE

On the first warm spring day I visited the Gaasbeek castle which is located near Brussels. It is quiet impressive and surrounded by a very beautiful parc.

The fortified castle was built around 1240 to defend the Duchy of Brabant against the County of Flanders. The castle was later destroyed by Brussels city troops.

At the beginning of the 16th century a brick castle was constructed on the ruins of the medieval fortress.

In the following centuries the castle was inhabited by several noble families. It obtained its pseudo-medieval appearance as the result of a renovation during the years 1887-1898.

Since 1980 the castle has been owned by the Flemish Community and became a museum. The authentic testament of the famous painter Peter Paul Rubens is exposed in there.

The castle and its park are of 50 hectares or 124 acres. (you can read more about it here)

The castle

and the crest above the entrance

one of the towers

inside, the entrance to the museum

a beautiful iron door

The inner court

Gardeners discussing

all around the castle is a moat, now without water

Pleasure Pavillon

The entrance doesn't seem to be used very often !

everywhere were mirrors as signs in form of a lady rider which explained the way to go and the explanations of the places.

and the huge wonderful parc.

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I love writing, traveling and photography. . I am German, married to an Italian and we live in Waterloo (15 km from Brussels) / Belgium since many years. Waterloo is a famous place to many tourists, because Napoleon lost his battle here against Wellington and other European countries.

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