Dendermonde to Antwerp ~ Wissekerke Castle (Day 8, Part 2 of 3)

You can't be in Europe without encountering a castle or two!  The Wissekerke Castle is in the village of Bazel.  A castle has been in this location since the 10th century, the present castle was built in the 15th century with a lake, park and a suspension bridge built around the castle. The suspension bridge by the castle is one of the oldest surviving wrought iron suspension bridges in Europe and was designed in 1824.

 

The grounds are beautiful.  A bronze swan keeps watch while swans, geese and ducks glide in the lake.

 

 

Many famous people lived at Wissekerke castle, including the influential family of Vilain XIIII. For 139 years the members of this family were the mayors of Bazel.  The castle currently has a discovery tour that shows the castle through the eyes of Baroness Zoe de Felz, wife of Count Philippe-Louis Marie Ghislain Vilain XIIII, the mayor of Bazel from 1800 until 1856.

 

 

We purchased our tickets and were given headsets.  The tour was narrated by a woman, giving us a tour through the eyes and memories of the Baroness herself.

 

Wouldn't you like to be invited to a meal here? 

 

So many rooms!

 

A baby carriage:

Music room:

 

The Baroness was acquainted with Napoleon Bonaparte and had a painting of him on the same wall with a painting of her and her daughter.

 

The castle has its own chapel.

 

The next room was a ladies bed chamber:

 

The Baroness had a special mirror that allowed us to try on some of her hats.  We may have had just a little too much fun here!

 

One of the staircases:

 

They have an interactive area for school children:

 

We went in to their home theater.  A play was performed explaining some of Belgium's history and the Vilain family's involvement.

 

View from inside the castle.

 

I'm so glad we took the time to stop and explore this castle!