Domain Breivelde

Domain Breivelde is a protected landscape park with a castle built in 1904, situated in the rolling hills of Zottegem. The grounds include ten interconnected ponds, flowing water features, dense forest paths, and a diverse collection of trees.

The estate originated as a hunting ground around 1830 and was later transformed into a landscape park designed by Georges Herry in 1887. The castle itself was built in the early 1900s as a neo-Renaissance structure for a prosperous family.

The name Breivelde refers to the broad fields that characterize the estate. The castle showcases Flemish architecture from the early 1900s and reflects the prosperity of Belgian industrial families who lived here.

The grounds are best explored on foot, as the ten ponds spread across the rolling terrain with numerous paths connecting them. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the paths wind through wooded areas and can become muddy, especially after rain.

The park contains an old ice cellar that now serves as a winter retreat for bat populations and provides crucial shelter. This hidden feature shows how historical structures have found new ecological purposes.