Loppem Castle

The Loppem Castle (French: Château de Loppem ) is in the same village, a district of the municipality Zedelgem, in the province of West Flanders, which is part of the Flemish Region of Belgium.

1856 commissioned Baron Charles van Caloen ( 1815-1896 ) and his wife Savina de Gourcy Serainchamps the English architect Edward Welby Pugin to draw up a plan for the castle. In collaboration with the Belgian architect Jean -Baptiste Bethune the castle in neo-Gothic style was built from 1859 to 1862. The castle of Loppem has a particularly homogeneous style, architecture and interior have been preserved in their origin.

Park

Castle Park Loppem was originally owned by the priest Elias Verdick. 1756 transferred the ownership of Pierre Clément de Potter sen. By 1800, built his son Clément Pieree jun. a country house and left the park in a garden with Chinese facilities remodel. His daughter married Joseph Bernard van Caloen. Her son, Baron Charles van Colon, ordered the construction of the castle. In 1873 there were their sons Baron Albert ( Bruges July 7, 1856 - Loppem December 3, 1933 ), and Ernest van Caloen who crafted the current park with ponds, caves and a maze in a size of 2000 m².

The coup of Loppem

In October 1918, shortly after the end of World War I, King Albert I of Belgium resided in Loppem castle. On November 11, 1918, he met specifications for Belgium's political future. In the "Coup of Loppem " the king decided without the hitherto dominant conservatives on the amendment of the electoral law on the basis of "one man - one vote" from the age at 21. At the same time a unity government was launched, consisting of socialists, liberals and Catholics. This sudden reorganization of the political system of Belgium was for years criticized by conservative Belgians.

During the 18 - day campaign of World War II resided King Leopold III. of Belgium from 18th to May 15th 1940 also in Loppem castle.

Today

Palace and Park are now owned by the Jean van Caloen Foundation.