Ravenhof Castle (Torhout)
| Kasteel Ravenhof | |
|
Ravenhof Castle | |
  Location within Belgium | |
| Established | 15th-19th century |
|---|---|
| Location | Torhout, West Flanders, Belgium |
| Coordinates | 51°04′44″N 3°03′34″E / 51.078925°N 3.05948351°E |
| Type | Castle |
| Owner | City of Torhout |
| Nearest car park | On site |
Ravenhof Castle (Dutch: Kasteel Ravenhof) is a castle in the center of Torhout, West Flanders, Belgium. The city's park surrounds the castle which now serves as a museum and tourist center.
Construction
The castle is thought to have been build in the 13th-15th century, but the original building was destroyed and the current building was built on the foundation of its predecessor in the 16th century. The castle was surrounded by walls and had a upper and down courtyard.
Inhabitants
In the 17th century, the castle was inhabited by the noble family Decuypere who controlled the cities cloth industry. In the 18th century however, the castle became the property of the landowner family de POTTER www.potter.c.la.
Halfway through the 19th century, the castle became the property of doctor René Van Oye who in 1863 started a linen factory in the building. And between 1850 and 1874 he build a few houses around the property for his employees.
Between 1880 and 1885, the castle was almost entirely rebuild, when in 1906 a man named Oscar Hostyn bought the property and converted the castle into a shoe factory. The castles current interior design dates from 1912-1913.[1]
World War I
During World War I when Torhout was occupied by the invading German forces, Ravenhof castle was used as a residence for German soldiers. She was cleared from this task after the wars end in 1918.
First restoration
In 1920 the castle was restored and later sold to the Couppé family.
The Castles Decay
From 1960 onward, the castle and the surrounding domain began to decay.
Second restoration
The castle was restored again in 1993-1994, after the restoration the city of Torhout purchased the property, the upper floors of the castle became a museum for Torhouts Pottery and the ground floor is used as a tourist center.
References
- ↑ "Kasteel Ravenhof". Retrieved 3 December 2015.