Guided visit to the castle of Loppem

Under the guidance of our board member Stefaan Cossey, we visit this beautiful castle. Local guides will take the participants through this beautiful pleasure ground. A few kilometers from Bruges, close to the Ostend-Brussels motorway, a stately castle rises in the middle of a romantic English garden with ancient trees, ponds, and even a maze. It is an imposing and unique monument, built between 1858 and 1863 in the then-prevailing architectural style: neo-Gothic. Baron Charles van Caloen and his wife Countess Savina de Gourcy Serainchamps first turned to the English architect Edward Welby Pugin and a little later Jean Bethune took over the assignment. The interiors are furnished in perfect harmony with the architectural style. The castle is a total work of art. Pugin designed the furniture and Bethune drew the interior: the stained glass windows, chandeliers, stairs, fireplaces… Everything was crafted with great skill by local craftsmen. Architecture and interior were designed simultaneously and preserved as a whole. Pay attention to the artistic wood carving of the stairs, the specially designed door handles and floor tiles, or the wall paintings with captions by the Flemish poet Guido Gezelle. Vloethemveld forms an excellent starting point as a former prisoner-of-war camp after WWII, ammunition depot, and school for non-commissioned officers. The expo tells you the story of different military living worlds, interspersed with photos and interviews. During the return trip, we stop for an evening meal. Pay to account number De Poperinghenaar IBAN BE 55 0689 4355 9544 with the mention 'Trip August 22, 2026'