- Address: Steenbrugsestraat 26, 8210 Zedelgem-Loppem, België
- Phone: +32 50 82 22 45
- Website: http://www.kasteelvanloppem.be/
- E-mail: kasteel.van.loppem@gmail.com
- Working hours: in April-June and September-October from 14-00 to 17-00, in July and August from 13-00 to 18-00
- The cost of visiting: adult - 5 euros, children from 4 to 14 years - 2 euros
Loppmem Castle is 6 km from Bruges , near the town of Loppmem. This building was built in the style of Gothic Revival from 1859 to 1862, and its first owner was Baron Karl van Kaloen. The castle is built on an ancient foundation - the story says that the first building here was founded in 1600.
Loppem Castle has a rather tragic history: twice it suffered from fires, then it was restored, then it was crushed by foreign invaders. At the beginning of the 20th century, it served as the residence of King Albert I's family, and during the First World War the headquarters of the Belgian troops worked here. Today in the castle you can see a rich collection of works of art: paintings, sculptures and stained glass, as well as the original setting of the XIX century.
A park
The castle is surrounded by a beautiful landscape park in the "Anglo-Chinese" style. The park of about 100 hectares was created in the end of the XIX century, the author of the project and the head of the works was the architect from Liège Jean Jandre. The park is beautiful shady avenues, ponds and, of course, the famous labyrinth, in which it is very easy to get lost. The labyrinth was created by Albert and Ernest van Kaloeny, its area is 0.2 hectares. It consists of a dozen "corridors" with a total length of one and a half kilometers. Visitors need to get to a tree that grows in the center of the maze.
More about the castle
On the site where the castle began to be built in 1859, there was a mansion that was demolished, then to build a neo-Gothic building impregnated with the spirit of Christianity - the Baron Karl van Kaloen himself and his wife Savina de Goursi were very religious people. The Baron's wife personally chose architect Pugin, who drafted and directed the construction of the castle. Because of the disagreements, Pugin did not finish the work to the end, and Baron Bethune completed the construction. Interestingly, this fact: initially in the castle there were no toilets, they were "added" later.
The interior is also designed in the Neo-Gothic style. The first thing that visitors pay attention to when they get to the main hall are the ceilings of 17-meter height. The fireplace in the hall is decorated with the coats of arms of de Goursi and van Kaloenov. The hall, the dining room, the blue living room, the study, the kitchen and other rooms look the same as at the van Kaloyen. Not only furniture, weapons, watches, carpets, but even window frames were preserved.
On the second floor leads a spiral staircase a quarter of a turn, decorated with a carved balustrade. It was here that King Albert and his wife lived. The walls are decorated with paintings by Van Dyck, students of Rubens and other famous artists. The collection of art objects includes not only paintings, but also sculptures, mostly on religious themes. Most of the collection is collected by Jean van Kahlen, grandson of the first owner. Also in the castle many stuffed animals.
How do I get to Lopem Castle and when can I visit it?
You can get to one of Bruges attractions by car on the R30 (the road takes less than 20 minutes, the distance is about 9.5 km) or on the N397 (distance is about 12 km, the journey time is 17 minutes). You can come here by public transport: by bus IC to Zedelgem, and from there to the castle by bus number 74.
The castle works all days of the week (including holidays), except Mondays. You can get here both with an excursion , and independently. For individual visits, it is closed from November to March inclusive, in July and August working hours - from 13-00 to 18-00, in April, May, June, September and October - from 14-00 to 17-00, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays until 18-00. Inside, they stop starting half an hour before closing.
Children under 4 years old can visit the castle and go through the maze for free. The cost for all over 4 years is 1 euro, visiting the castle for children from 4 to 14 years - 2 euros, for adults - 5 euros. When a joint visit to both the castle and the maze of children's ticket will cost 2.5, and an adult - at 5.5 euros.
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