Beersel Castle: A Medieval Fortress in Belgium

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.visitbeersel.be

Country: Belgium

Civilization: Medieval European

Remains: Military

History

Beersel Castle is located in Beersel, Belgium, near the Zenne river meadows at the foot of a hill where the village developed. It was built between 1300 and 1310 by order of Duke John II of Brabant. The castle’s purpose was to protect the southern borders of the Duchy of Brabant from attacks by the neighboring County of Hainaut. The first known lord and builder was Godfrey of Hellebeke, who served as seneschal, or steward, of Brabant.

In the 14th century, Beersel Castle formed part of a defensive network encircling Brussels, alongside fortresses such as Bouillon, Corroy, Horst, Lavaux, and Vêves. Ownership passed through several Brabant noble families, most notably the Witthem family, who held it from the late 1300s until the late 1500s. During the Brabant succession war in 1356, the castle was besieged and damaged by forces led by Louis de Male, Count of Flanders, but repairs were swiftly made.

Between 1488 and 1489, the castle was captured by rebellious citizens of Brussels opposing Emperor Maximilian I. The rebels used French artillery to take the fortress. After the rebellion was crushed, Maximilian compelled Brussels to compensate Henry III of Wittem for the damage. This led to extensive restoration and expansion of the castle from 1491 to 1508, enhancing its defenses and living quarters.

Following the extinction of the Witthem family line in the late 16th century, the castle passed to the Arenberg family. They neglected the property, which caused it to fall into disrepair. In 1818, the castle was rented to a cotton factory, marking a period of industrial use that further contributed to its decline. The French writer Victor Hugo visited during this time and composed a poem lamenting the castle’s ruined state.

In 1849, the castle came into the possession of Charles de Merode through marriage. He undertook some repairs to prevent the structure from collapsing entirely. Later, in 1928, Count Guillaume Hemricourt de Grunne and his wife Henriette de Grunne, née Merode, founded the “Friends of Beersel Castle” society. They began restoration efforts, which were interrupted by World War II.

After the war, in 1948, ownership transferred to the Royal Association of Historic Residences and Gardens of Belgium. From the late 1940s onward, the castle courtyard hosted theatrical performances, including original plays and Shakespearean tragedies, gaining cultural significance in the Brussels region. In 1999, management passed to the municipality of Beersel under a lease agreement. A major restoration campaign started in 2007 aimed to return the castle to its 14th-century appearance, with significant work completed by 2020.

Remains

Beersel Castle has an oval, or elliptical, layout surrounded by a broad water-filled moat, typical of a water castle designed for flat landscapes. The defensive walls and towers are mainly built of brick, a rare choice for the period, with foundations, corners, window frames, and arrow slits made from local sandstone varieties known as Ledian and Écaussinnes stone.

The curtain walls are strengthened by three tall semicircular towers topped with conical roofs, likely added in the 17th century. Originally, there were four such towers. The castle does not have a traditional central keep, known as a donjon. Access to the inner courtyard was originally through a northern gate tower reached by a drawbridge over the moat. This drawbridge and its mechanisms have been restored and remain operational.

The inner faces of the towers resemble old residential houses with stepped gables. Historically, these towers contained the lord’s chambers, storage rooms, barracks for the garrison, and arsenals. The upper parts of the walls include covered walkways called chemin de ronde, which allowed defenders to patrol and defend the castle. Two vertical oubliettes, or dungeons, are located within these galleries.

The middle tower houses a knight’s hall featuring a Gothic vault dating from the 15th century. The castle’s decoration includes brown and gray local sandstone. Originally, the complex also contained a watchtower, now lost, as well as a chapel and kitchen. Inside the kitchen area, a torture table is displayed, reflecting the castle’s defensive and judicial functions.

Situated slightly above the surrounding meadows, the castle’s robust brick walls and wide moat provided strong protection. Compared to other medieval fortresses in Belgium, Beersel Castle is well preserved. It has undergone several restoration phases to maintain its structure and historical character.