Ravenhof Castle

Belgium

Ravenhof Castle (Dutch: Kasteel Ravenhof) is a castle in the center of TorhoutWest FlandersBelgium. The city’s park surrounds the castle which now serves as a museum and tourist center.

The castle is thought to have been built in the 13th–15th century, but the original building was destroyed and the current building was built on the foundation of its predecessor in the 16th century. The castle was surrounded by walls and had an upper and lower courtyard. In the 17th century, the castle was inhabited by the noble family, Decuypere, who controlled the city’s cloth industry. In the 18th century, however, the castle became the property of the family, de Potter. Halfway through the 19th century, the castle became the property of René Van Oye who, in 1863, started a linen factory in the building. Between 1850 and 1874, he built a few houses around the property for his employees.

The castle was restored again in 1993–1994. After the restoration, the city of Torhout purchased the property; the upper floors of the castle became a museum for Torhouts Pottery and the ground floor is used as a tourist center.

Contact

Kasteel Ravenhof
email
museum@torhout.be
address
Ravenhofstraat 5 8820 Torhout
phone
+32 50 22 07 70