Castle History
The Castle of Grand-Bigard, built during the 12th century, is one of the most interesting buildings of the Flemish heritage.
The first stones were laid in 1110. The first Lord of Grand-Bigard was ALMARIC, the first of 39 successive landlords.
The 14th Lord was Guillaume ESTOR, a famous warrior. He was injured during the battle of Amiens in 1471. Four years later he became Officer of administration of Brussels, until the city surrendered to Emperor Maximilian.
His grandson, Jean ESTOR and his niece, the Lady of BIGARD, were sentenced to death for heresy in 1548. The estate was confiscated by Charles the 5th and sold.
The 28th Lord, Count Philippe de BOISSCHOT, drastically modified and extended the Middle Age castle, of which only the dungeon still remains. The Renaissance extensions included an adjacent chapel and two towers at the entrance.
Afterwards, the estate was abandoned and broken up into smaller land holdings. The Castle fell into decay, and during the 18th and 19th centuries was further devalued by unaesthetic and out-of-style renovations.
In 1902, the new owner Raymond PELGRIMS de BIGARD started a 30 year-restoration - as he did with the castles of Chimay, Beersel, Laerne and Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, the Petit Sablon and the Maison des Brasseurs in Brussels. The main facade was restored, the moat was cleaned and dredged, so that the castle of Grand-Bigard regained its ancient glory.
The castle is surrounded by a wide moat. A five-arch drawbridge leads to the entrance, formerly a guardhouse, under which the jail and the torture room still testify to its Middle Age origins. The central part of the main gate, built in the 14th century, displays the heraldic shield of arms of BOISSCHOT.
The dungeon, built in 1347, is more than 30 meters high (90 feet): from the top one can enjoy a panoramic view on the Flemish countryside. The walls of the Gothic ground floor are 3 meters thick. Inside the wall, a spiral staircase gives access to all four levels.
The Weapons Room displays an impressive fireplace of the 14th century. Close to the entrance, a typical Flemish kitchen still includes a baker’s oven.
The castle’s alternating bricks and limestone facade is a remarkable example of the Flemish Renaissance style of the 17th century, and the castle is now considered one of the most beautiful in the country.