Aische Castle: A Medieval Castle Estate in Belgium
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.8
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Belgium
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval, Early Modern
- Civilizations
- Habsburg, Holy Roman Empire
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page11 sections
History
Medieval lordship and family ownership
The Château d’Aische, or Aische Castle, is a medieval castle in Belgium, in Aische-en-Refail, within the municipality of Éghezée. Its principal residence is a limestone building dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century, and the complex developed within the Aische lordship, which dates to 1211.
The castle and its farm were associated with the Refayt family from the medieval period. The property remained in the family’s possession until 1647. In 1648, Aloysio du Bois purchased Aische for 5,400 florins from either the king of Spain or the Domains. He already held the Refail fief, including the feudal court of Walhain, a lord’s judicial institution for that territory, as well as a mansion in Antwerp and the castles of Kijkuit in Wyneghem and Zwarte Arend in Deurne.
Changes of ownership and enlargement
The property later passed to Simon de Neuf through his marriage to Philippote du Bois d’Aische. It then went to his son-in-law, Count Charles Ignace d’Oultremont de Wégimont, who lived from 1753 to 1803. Charles Ignace d’Oultremont and Anne de Neuf d’Aische were the parents of Émile d’Oultremont and Olympe d’Oultremont. Olympe, who married Baron Ferdinand du Bois de Nevelle, inherited the castle.
The castle was enlarged between 1760 and 1780. This phase altered the medieval estate while retaining the older principal residence and its attached keep, the main fortified tower of a medieval castle.
Abandonment and wartime damage
The castle was abandoned at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It ceased to be permanently inhabited from 1830 and had been unoccupied since 1865. Damage during the First World War was followed by the demolition of parts of the castle by its owners. The residence and keep are now partially ruined.
Aische Castle has been a listed heritage property of Wallonia since 1977.
Remains
Castle buildings
Limestone residence
The principal residence is an important limestone building dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century. It formed the central historic part of the castle complex and was enlarged between 1760 and 1780. The building now survives in ruined condition.
Attached keep
A keep was attached to the limestone residence. As the principal fortified tower of the medieval castle, it belonged to the defensive core of the complex. The keep and the residence are now in ruins.
U-shaped farm complex
Farm buildings
The castle faced a large U-shaped farm constructed of brick and blue stone, a durable dark bluish building stone used in Belgian architecture. The surviving described elements include a gable and a corner tower belonging to the castle farm.
Monumental gateway and bakehouse
Entry to the farm was through a monumental gateway. A former bakehouse stood at the entrance to the castle complex, forming part of the group of service buildings associated with the castle and farm.
