Commanderij van Pitzemburg, Medieval commandry in Mechelen, Belgium
Commanderij van Pitzemburg is a medieval religious order complex in Mechelen featuring 18th-century residential buildings arranged around courtyards. The estate includes substantial grounds with mature trees and pathways that now form part of an educational campus.
A military religious order established this complex around 1200 following a land grant from a prominent local family. The site transformed into an educational institution in the early 19th century and continues this role today.
The name comes from a medieval noble family who held land here. Today visitors can see how the grounds reflect layers of different uses across time, from religious order to school campus.
The site is now an active school campus with some areas open to visitors, particularly the outdoor grounds and gardens. Check ahead about access to specific buildings since classes are in session during the school year.
Excavations beneath the school buildings uncovered 16th-century cellar vaults hidden underground. These subterranean chambers reveal how the site's history extends far below what we see on the surface today.
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