Kasteel van Wijnendale

Castle Wijnendale is a historically significant castle near Wijnendale in West Flanders. The current castle is largely a reconstruction of the 19th century, but part of the north wing dates from the 15th century. A wing is occupied by the current owners, in another a museum is housed.

History

Counts of Flanders and Namur

The first castle was built by Robert I, Count of Flanders at the end of the 11th century and used for military operations.

In the 12th and 13th centuries was Wijnendale regular residence of the counts of Flanders and Philip I in particular. 1297 here is a contract between Guido and I. Edward I of England was signed. In 1298, the castle of the Counts of Namur. In the years 1302 and 1325 the castle was besieged and damaged. It is likely that Blanche of Namur grew up here and here also her future husband Magnus II (Sweden) met here.

Counts of Burgundy, Cleves and Ravenstein

After a period of neglect sold Count Johann III. of Namur, the fief and castle in 1407 to John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, who three years later his son Adolf II of Cleves left it as a dowry. 1463 is the lock into the possession of the Lords of Ravenstein, a collateral line of the house of Cleves, over. Adolf of Cleves and his son Philip of Cleves - Ravenstein rebuilt the castle into a beautiful mansion. Adolf was married to a biological aunt and nanny Mary of Burgundy, who lived from time to time in Wijnendale, just like her son Philip I of Castile. 1482 crashed the pregnant Mary of Burgundy in the falconry at Wijnendale where they fell from his horse, three weeks later she died later at a miscarriage of Bruges Prince's Court. Her death changed the history of the Netherlands. With her authoritarian husband Maximilian I the more than 300 -year rule of the Habsburgs began. 1528 Wijnendale came back to the main line of the House of Kleve. Their relatives Charles V and Mary of Castile talked more than once in the castle. In the second half of the 16th century, the counts lost interest in her Flemish possessions and in 1578 a part of the castle was burned down by the Protestants.

Counts of Palatinate -Neuburg

1609 died Johann Wilhelm of Jülich- Kleve -Berg childless. The fief went to the Jülich- Kleve succession dispute in the Treaty of Xanten in one of the victors, Wolfgang Wilhelm of Pfalz- Neuburg. This transfer was confirmed in 1666 by the Privy Council in Brussels and by the Treaty of Cleves.

During the numerous attacks of Louis XIV in Flanders Wijnendale was repeatedly occupied by troops passing through and 1690 severely damaged, when French troops blew up a part of the castle in the air. 1699/1700 built Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz Castle on again. On September 28, 1708 a battle between the French and allied troops took place in Wijnendale, which was won by the Allies. The castle itself was not damaged. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle was inhabited by a governor, while the Counts of Palatinate -Neuburg lived in Germany. In the mid-18th century Karl Theodor built roads in West Flanders to revive trade in Wijnendale as the center.

French and Dutch period

1792 French Revolution troops occupied the Austrian Netherlands and ended the feudal system. Karl Theodor was the content of the castle transported in his residences in Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Munich. The castle was owned by the French state. 1811 Castle of French troops was so badly damaged that only ruins remained.

During the Dutch period the domain was sold to a Walloon industrial group that had cut down all the trees before they went bankrupt.

• See also Torhout, sights ( History 20th Century )