Brief history
In the early 12th century, a stone building was built in the swamp forests around Laarne, on the spot where later the gatehouse of this castle would come. Not a century and a half later, the castle area evolved into its current moated castle. A serious case of “building boom”! Mr. Giselbrecht of Zottegem then married with Mathilde of Bethune, daughter of the Lord of Dendermonde and was thus pawned with delights Laarne and Kalken.
Like many historic buildings, the history of the Castle of Laarne is one of siege, demolition and construction. Traces of fire on the night of September 22, 1383, when the city of Ghent rose against the Count of Flanders, which was housed in Laarne. In 1943, the castle was protected as historic monument and the Royal Association of Residential Historic Cities of Belgium under the supervision of Knight Joseph de Ghellinck d’ Elseghem took care of the castle. Curently, the castle exhibits a European renowned historic silver collection.
