Beersel Castle

About

Beersel Castle (Dutch: Castle of Beersel; French: Château de Beersel) is a medieval castle located in Beersel, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Originaling in 1300 under the auspices of the Duchy of Brabant, the water castle's present configuration dates to 1357. It was twice sacked and was subject to significant restorations in 1491 and 1617. Its present condition owes much to a major restoration in 1928.39. Built extensively of brick, a strange material for such buildings at the time, around a circular escape, its major feature is its three large towers. Nowadays, it is open to the public and is considered one of Belgium's best-preserved castles.

Construction and history: Beersel was located at the frontier of the Duchy of Brabant within the County of Hainaut, south-west of Brabant's principal city of Brussels and near Halle. A fortified residence at the site was certified as early as 1292. In 1300, however, Godefroid of Hellebeke, the first known Seigneur of Beersel, received permission from Jean II, Duke of Brabant, to build a establishment on the present site near his residence. It became one of several Brabantine fortifications in the area, including Gaasbeek Castle. In...