Ravenhof Castle, Medieval castle in Torhout, Belgium.
Ravenhof Castle is a white-plastered structure with multiple floors and ramparts transformed into water gardens, set within a two-hectare landscaped park featuring exotic trees. The complex blends its medieval core with later additions like garden ponds and carefully designed grounds.
The castle was built between the 13th and 15th centuries and underwent reconstruction in the 16th century as a residence for influential cloth industry families. This connection to textile production defined its importance in the trading region.
The first floor houses the Museum of Torhout Pottery, displaying ceramic pieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries made locally. The collection shows how pottery craftsmanship shaped the town's identity and trade.
The ground floor functions as a tourist information office that provides access to the castle's interior spaces and exhibits. Throughout the grounds, informative panels guide visitors as they explore both the building and surrounding gardens.
The Louis XVI drawing room contains painted canvas artworks depicting the days of the week, commissioned by shoe manufacturer Oscar Hostyn before World War I. These artistic pieces reveal the wealth and taste of local industrialists in the late 1800s.
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