CastleSint-Pieters-Leeuw

Coloma Castle

Coloma Castle

Cultural center

Coloma Castle is a historic estate in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium. Originally conceived as a military fortress, it was transformed into a representative neoclassical castle in the 18th century and now serves as a vibrant cultural center.

History+

The origins of Coloma Castle date back to 1515, when Leonard van Hecke, the son of a Brussels alderman, had the estate built. It was initially known as “Goed van Hecke”. In 1611, it changed hands when Joos van Hecke sold it to the Spanish noble family Arguello. After further changes of ownership, it came into the possession of Karel Laurin in 1643. Through the marriage of his eldest daughter Anna to a knight de Varick and the subsequent inheritance by her son-in-law Jean-Charles Roose, who was appointed the first Baron of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw in 1690, the castle became the residence of the Barons. It owes its current name to Charles Vital Alexandre Coloma, a chamberlain to Empress Maria Theresia, who lived here in the 18th century. Subsequently, through marriage and inheritance, the castle passed to the Counts van der Dilft and later to the Counts van Limburg-Stirum. The last Baron rented out the uninhabited castle, which was leased by the Belgian state from 1974 and made accessible to the public. After this collaboration ended in 1980 and the castle fell into disrepair, the municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw acquired the estate in 1987. After extensive renovations, it was reopened as a cultural center in 1992.

Location+

Coloma Castle is located in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flanders region, Belgium. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 30 meters above sea level.

On site+

Today, Coloma Castle houses a cultural center that is accessible to the public. The brick building with its four corner towers and characteristic hipped roof is accessible via a four-arch bridge and presents itself as a moated castle. Part of the former 17th-century coach house has been preserved and is used as a restaurant.

Nearby+
  • Rattendaal Castle (Castle), approx. 2.5 km away
  • Wittouck Castle (Castle), approx. 3.3 km away
  • Beersel Castle (Castle), approx. 3.9 km away
  • Gaasbeek Castle (Castle), approx. 4.1 km away

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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0

This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.

Location: 50.7788, 4.2484