Beauvoorde Castle () is a

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

Wulveringem Wulveringem is a small agricultural and residential village in the Westhoek region of West Flanders, a short distance from the border with French Flanders. Wulveringem has a land area of 9.37 km2: in 2011 there were 336 registered inhabitan ...

, which since 1977 has been part of the municipality of

Veurne Veurne (; , ) is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality in the Belgium, Belgian Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of , , ...

West Flanders West Flanders is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region, in Belgium. It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemis ...

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. The first identified owner of the castle, in 1408, was Jan de Valuwe. In 1584, during the early part of the

Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (; 1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish Empire, Spanish government. The Origins of the Eighty Years' War, causes of the w ...

, the castle was burned down by bandits. It was rebuilt in 1617 in the Renaissance style. At that time the castle was owned by Jacob de Bryarde, and it remained in the Bryarde family till 1828, by which time the family fortunes were in decline and the castle was falling into a state of increasing disrepair. In 1875 a new owner, Arthur Merghelynck, undertook an extensive restoration. The interior fittings and furnishings inside it today date from Merghalynck's time. The building was expanded under plans drawn up by an architect from

called Jozef Vinck. The interior was remodeled in the seventeenth-century style using a combination of recovered and replica elements. The reworking was topped off with a new garden in a Franco-English style. Merghelynck died childless in 1905 and the castle was bequeathed to the Belgian state on condition they made it available to the (subsequently renamed) Royal Academy of Dutch language and literature (KANTL). Merghelynck's widow died in 1941 at the height of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, but after the war ended in 1945 his wishes were implemented. The castle was promoted to historic monument status in 1987.Kasteel van Beauvoorde met binnenste omwalling
/ref> In 1998 responsibility for the castle was transferred to a regional level, coming under the remit of the Flemish Heritage foundation. At certain times the castle can now be visited with the support of an "audio-guide". A "heritage shop" and "visitors' centre" complement the experience. Belgian State transferred the castle domain to the Flemish Community in 2003. Since then, the association Erfgoed Vlaanderen has taken care of its management. In turn, Erfgoed Vlaanderen merged into the new Flemish heritage organization Herita in 2012. Beauvoorde Castle can now be visited individually with an audio guide. There is also a heritage store and a visitor center. The castle gives a cultural boost to the Westhoek, including through a summer exhibition and other cultural activities.

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Beauvoorde Castle
Castles in Belgium Castles in West Flanders Museums in West Flanders Historic house museums in Belgium {{Belgium-castle-stub

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