Kasteel van Lilare, Castle in Belgium

Kasteel van Lilare is a three-storey castle of pale cream stucco with grey stone trim under a dark slate roof, its facade flanked by two square corner towers with steep roofs and finials. A central entrance projects slightly, with a stone stair, an arched doorway, a round-arched window and a triangular pediment. Tall white-framed windows line the floors in regular rows, and a darker grey annex sits at the right.

The lordship of Lilare was first mentioned in the 12th century and was held as a fief from the Lords of Zottegem. It passed through the families van Lilare, van Herzele, van Egmont, Blondel, van Norman, Mathot and Le Mesre de Pas. The 18th-century castle and the 15th-century gatehouse, which carries the coats of arms of Pieter Frans Blondel and his wife Idesberga Blondel, survive from this estate. The gatehouse has been a protected monument since 1980, and restoration subsidies were released in 2021.

The name Lilare comes from the medieval lordship held from the Lords of Zottegem. Since 1938 the Sint-Franciscusinstituut, a secondary school with boarding, has occupied the buildings, run by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Opbrakel; the old gatehouse now serves as their economaat, or housekeeping store. Inside are a 13th-century Gothic statue of Mary and a collection of 18th- and 19th-century Russian icons.

The castle houses the Sint-Franciscusinstituut, a secondary school with a boarding facility run by the Zusters van Sint-Franciscus van Opbrakel, so the buildings and grounds are school premises rather than a public attraction. The 15th-century gatehouse, listed as a monument since 1980, serves as the sisters' economaat. View the cream-stuccoed facade and twin corner towers from the public road; for anything beyond that, contact the institute in advance.

Inside the castle are a 13th-century Gothic statue of the Virgin, a "Motherhood" and a "Self-gift" by Felix De Boeck, and a large collection of 18th- and 19th-century Russian icons. The gatehouse, restored and protected since 1980, carries the coats of arms of Pieter Frans Blondel, baron of Oudenhove, and his wife Idesberga Blondel.