De Boeverie, Medieval castle in Bruges, Belgium
De Boeverie is a castle in Bruges with thick stone walls, narrow windows, and residential rooms that show how fortified buildings developed in Flanders over time. Different parts of the structure come from different building periods and reveal changes in construction methods and design across nearly a thousand years.
The castle traces its origins back to the early medieval period, with the oldest stone foundations still visible from that era. Over the centuries, it was rebuilt and expanded several times, with each period adding its own distinctive features to the structure.
The castle served as a residence for local nobility who shaped the region's political life, and visitors can still observe how the rooms were designed to display wealth and power.
Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the grounds are uneven and there are several flights of stairs to climb. It is best to visit during warmer months, as the rooms can be cold without heating during winter.
One of the entrances displays a well-preserved family crest from the 17th century that marks an important period of ownership. This small but meaningful detail is often overlooked by visitors, though it provides a direct link to the castle's noble inhabitants from that time.
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