Arts & Manners: Castles in Belgium

For me, the fascination of castles (castle-type castles, I mean, with courtyards and turrets and moats and dungeons) lies in the fact that they represent neatly enclosed, complete little worlds. Give me one such castle and I immediately start playing house in it, putting the women in this keep and the retainers in that hall, not to mention deciding on the most auspicious spots from which to pour boiling oil on the enemy without. (Oil is more expensive, but it stays hot longer than water.) Manorhouse or palace-type castles, on the other hand, bring out the more kulturni side in me, since I also like to identify myself with the splendid, luxurious and lascivious goings on that took place (or so one hopes) in those gilded salons, those mirrored halls, those canopied bedrooms.

Thus, I had a great deal of fun in Belgium this summer since Belgium is full of castles of all kinds. There are about 66 that you can look at (with a very few, only the gardens are open to visitors). The Belgian Tourist Bureau, 589 Fifth Avenue, New York City, has folders with hours, directions etc. Here are a few that I liked especially.

NH

About the Author

Nika Hazelton

Featured Tags

For me, the fascination of castles (castle-type castles, I mean, with courtyards and turrets and moats and dungeons) lies in the fact that they represent neatly enclosed, complete little worlds. Give me one such castle and I immediately start playing house in it, putting the women in this keep and the retainers in that hall, not to mention deciding on the most auspicious spots from which to pour boiling oil on the enemy without. (Oil is more expensive, but it stays hot longer than water.) Manorhouse or palace-type castles, on the other hand, bring out the more kulturni side in me, since I also like to identify myself with the splendid, luxurious and lascivious goings on that took place (or so one hopes) in those gilded salons, those mirrored halls, those canopied bedrooms.

Thus, I had a great deal of fun in Belgium this summer since Belgium is full of castles of all kinds. There are about 66 that you can look at (with a very few, only the gardens are open to visitors). The Belgian Tourist Bureau, 589 Fifth Avenue, New York City, has folders with hours, directions etc. Here are a few that I liked especially.