Top 20 Castles around Schilde

Fort Kessel is a concrete armored fort built shortly before the First World War. Along with 29 other fortifications, it forms the outer fortification belt of the Antwerp fortress. The fort was built between 1909 and 1914 and modified during the interwar period (1934 and 1939). Until 1940, it played a role in the Belgian army's military defense strategy, first as an artillery stronghold and later as an infantry support point. The fort was demilitarized in 1947. Today, it is an important wintering site for bats. (Inventory of Immovable Heritage) And there is much more to do in and around the fort. Information can be found at https://fortvankessel.be

Great start and end point for a drink or cake.

Located directly on the Schlede and centrally in Antwerp, I didn't expect to see this magnificent castle there. The castle looks like one of the medieval castles from the earlier knight films. I found it very fascinating. The castle is also Antwerp's oldest building. Of course, it can also be visited.

Right nearby is this entertaining hedge maze.

Tourist information and museum in old walls

Sterckshof... is no longer a museum! (But DIVA is all the more so) Gerard Sterck was apparently not happy with a silver museum in 'his' castle. Well, his words proved prophetic. The history of Sterckshof began as early as the 13th century when the castle consisted of a farmstead surrounded by a moat. After several centuries of changes in ownership, renovations, and destruction, this castle, or what remained of it, came into the hands of the Province of Antwerp. They rebuilt it in the 1930s in neo-Renaissance style. Initially, Sterckshof was a museum for Arts and Crafts, until Jonkheer Pierre Lunden donated no less than 96 pieces of silver to the museum in 1976. This donation of art objects from the 16th century to the present day formed the basis of the extensive silver collection exhibited here. Since May 2018, this collection, along with the diamond collection, can be admired at DIVA. Currently, Sterckshof houses artists' studios and the cozy Bar Stark. Source: https://www.schattenvandeurne.be/sterckshof

The Defense Line of Antwerp was decided upon by the choice of Antwerp as the National Reduit in 1859. The idea behind this was that Antwerp was most suitable as a last fortress until help from allies could arrive. The National Reduit would consist of: a siege wall, a fort belt and underwater settlements. The fort belt would consist of eight Brialmont forts (built in 1859) in an 18 km long belt from Wijnegem to Hoboken. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, it was initially decided to build three bridgehead forts and then to build an outer line adapted to more modern weapons. The latter plan was ratified by law of March 30, 1906. This main resistance position included 16 forts and 10 redoubts on the right bank and 5 forts and 2 redoubts on the left bank.

The name "Vrieselhof" goes back to Jan van Vriesele, a nobleman from Kontich who bought approximately 24 hectares of land in Oelegem around 1300 (approximately 32 hectares). In 1975, a year after the sale to the province of Antwerp, the domain was opened to hikers. From 1977 to 1999 the "Provincial Textile and Costume Museum" was located in the Vrieselhof. Due to a lack of resources, only a limited part of the collection could be exhibited. In 2002, the museum moved to Antwerp and was named Fashion Museum Antwerp. In 2003, the Provincial Library Center settled in the castle, together with administrative services. In 2011, a "library of Flemish classics" was opened within the Provincial Library Center. Works by classical Flemish writers are collected and loaned out here. In 2014, the Antwerp provincial council decided to restructure the culture department. The library center would be merged with the Cultural Dissemination and Arts Service into a new Libraries and Arts Service. In 2015, the Provincial Library Center moved to Antwerp, but the collection of Flemish classics remained in the Vrieselhof.