Ooidonk Castle, Renaissance château in Deinze, Belgium.
Ooidonk Castle sits on a bend of the Leie River, displaying Hispanic-Flemish design with onion-topped towers and crenellated gable walls. The complex blends fortified structures with residential chambers and is surrounded by extensive gardens.
Originally built in 1230 as a fortress protecting Ghent, the structure was destroyed during religious conflicts of the 1500s. Merchant Martin della Faille rebuilt it in 1595 with Renaissance features that define its appearance today.
The castle remains home to the Count t'Kint de Roodenbeke family, whose presence shapes how the rooms and grounds are cared for and presented. Walking through the interior reveals how nobility adapted their living spaces across centuries.
The interior is open April through September on Sundays from 14:00 to 17:30, while gardens are accessible year-round. Visitors should expect some uneven ground and stairs when exploring the rooms.
The architecture merges Spanish Renaissance elements with Flemish traditions, reflecting the strong historical ties between Belgium and Spain in the 1500s. This unusual blend appears in few other buildings across the region.
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