Gaasbeek Castle, located in Lennik, Flemish Brabant, will reopen to the public on 1 July, according to a statement issued on Wednesday. The fortress has not been accessible since September 2020, due to a restoration campaign.
A new reception building housing the ticket office, museum shop and castle library has been built, among other things. The colourful frescoes in the rooms, corridors and halls, which had been covered up in the 20th century, have been restored and the panelling that had been removed has been recreated.
“It was a painstaking task for the restorers,” says Isabel Lowyck, director of Gaasbeek Castle. “They had the patience of saints.”
In the 1960s and 1970s, the woodwork had been removed and the walls repainted to give the castle a more contemporary setting.
Gaasbeek Castle, built in the 13th century, has undergone various alterations over the centuries. The last major renovations were carried out in the 19th century, under the supervision of the then owner, Marquise Arconati Visconti. The new refurbishments are in keeping with the colourful style of the same period.
The new interventions focus on circulation and accessibility within the castle. In particular, a lift has been integrated into the museum to make the whole of the first floor wheelchair accessible, while the stairs have been replaced, where possible, with sloping surfaces. Some areas, such as the attic, will now be accessible to the public and will soon be able to host exhibitions.
The final works are scheduled for the next few weeks. Visitors will then be able to visit the castle. It will be devoid of its works of art for the first few months, but the curious will be able to admire the restoration as a whole.
