Kasteel Puttenhove

Kasteel Puttenhove is a neoclassical mansion in Sint-Denijs-Westrem with a U-shaped layout and nine symmetrical facade sections plus octagonal corner towers rising three stories. The complex includes several outbuildings such as a carriage house, porter's lodge, pavilion, and stables alongside an English-style garden planted with rare tree species.

An earlier structure on this site appears in records from 1438 as a fief held from Saint Peter's Abbey. The property later became important enough to host prominent figures, including Philip II before his official investiture in 1549.

The mansion reflects how 19th-century Belgian nobility wanted their homes to look, following styles they admired from Paris. Walking through and around the building, you can see this preference for French elegance in every detail of the design.

The property sits within a protected cultural landscape, so you experience it as a complete setting. You should allow enough time to explore the main building, the extensive grounds, and the various outbuildings scattered across the estate.

The property still maintains its medieval moat system, which was preserved even as the house received its neoclassical redesign. A special treasure is a sequoia tree that the Soenens family brought directly from America during the 19th century and which still grows on the grounds today.

Location: Ghent

Inception: 1840

Architects: Louis Martial Minard

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Address: Putstraat 26-30

GPS coordinates: 51.01471,3.68144

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:27