Kasteel Lakebossen, Gothic Revival castle in Ruddervoorde, Belgium
Kasteel Lakebossen is a 19th-century castle built in Gothic Revival style with red-painted iron gates flanked by brick pillars. The building features an octagonal entrance hall and ornate architectural details, surrounded by landscaped grounds with rhododendron plantings, water features, and a walnut orchard.
Construction began in 1869 under architect Jean-Baptiste Bethune for knight Eugène van Outryve d'Ydewalle and his wife. The Gothic Revival design reflected the tastes of wealthy Belgians during that era.
The castle's interior shows how wealthy families lived in the 1800s, with two salons decorated in the neogothic style featuring painted ceilings and ornate fireplaces. These rooms reveal the tastes and values of the Belgian upper classes during that period.
Access is through the red gates into the well-maintained exterior grounds, with marked paths that invite exploration of the gardens. The best time to visit is from May to June when the rhododendrons are in full bloom.
The former stables were converted into a textile factory that produced down comforters under the Lakebos brand name. This transformation reveals how outbuildings on estates often gained new industrial purposes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
