Loppem Castle, Neo-Gothic castle in Zedelgem, Belgium.
Loppem Castle is a Gothic Revival castle of red brick with grey stone trim, built between 1859 and 1862, rising from the edge of a moat. A tall square tower with a steep slate roof and a corner turret stands at the centre, above a dark arched doorway reached by stone steps. Rows of white-framed windows and two tiers of dormer windows cross the facade.
The castle was built between 1859 and 1862 for Baron Charles van Caloen. In 1918, it served as a temporary residence for King Albert I of Belgium near the end of World War I.
The castle's art collection includes a stained-glass window from around 1460 showing an anonymous Pietà, listed among the Flemish Masters in Situ. The interior keeps its original 19th-century decoration and furnishings, and the surrounding park holds ponds and a maze planted in 1873 with red and green hornbeam.
The castle is open to visitors from March through November, and groups can book guided tours throughout the year in advance. Arriving early is a good idea if you want time to see both the building and the surrounding park.
The park around the castle contains a hedge maze that visitors can still walk through today, along with several ponds. The maze dates to the 19th century and is one of the few of its kind still in use in the region.
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