| Karreveld Castle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Karreveld Castle and pond | |
 Interactive map of Karreveld Castle | |
| General information | |
| Type | Castle-farm |
| Architectural style | Flemish Renaissance |
| Location | Avenue Jean de la Hoese /Jean de la Hoeselaan 32, 1080Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium |
| Coordinates | 50°51′37″N4°18′55″E / 50.86028°N 4.31528°E /50.86028; 4.31528 |
| Construction started | 16th or 17th century |
| Renovated | 1952–1958 |
| Designations | Protected (10/11/1955) |
| Other information | |
| Public transit access |  26Osseghem/Ossegem |
| References | |
| [1] | |
Karreveld Castle (French:Château du Karreveld;Dutch:Kasteel Karreveld) is acastle-farm inMolenbeek-Saint-Jean, a municipality ofBrussels, Belgium. The castle and surrounding park are used for cultural events and meetings of the municipal council. It is located at 32,avenue Jean de la Hoese/Jean de la Hoeselaan. This site is served byOsseghem/Ossegem metro station on lines2 and6 of theBrussels Metro.
The nameKarreveld (originally spelledCarrevelt) was first recorded in 1253 in a deed of donation byJohn I, Duke of Brabant, to his wifeMargaret, daughter of KingLouis IX of France.[2] It is sometimes linked to the Dutch wordsKarel Veld, meaning "Charles Field", based on a legend that EmperorCharles V once stopped at the site. However, official records mention the name long before his birth. A more likely origin is theOld DutchKarreelvelt, meaning "field of brick earth", referring to the local brickmaking activity that continued into the early 20th century.[2]
The current castle was built in the 16th or 17th century in theFlemish Renaissance style. In 1656, after passing through several owners, the castle and its estate became the property of the Spanish nobleman Don Garcia Osorio y Borgia.[2] In 1780, theHouse de Villegas [fr;nl], an influential Belgian noble family of Spanish origin, who also ownedRivieren Castle in the nearby municipality ofGanshoren, acquired the Karreveld estate. The family retained ownership for nearly two and a half centuries.[2][3]
Between 1900 and 1914, the estate was gradually repurposed for recreational and sporting activities.Hot air balloon launches were hosted there, and a woodenvelodrome was established in 1908. The castle also accommodated adairy andtavern. In 1912, Karreveld became one of the sites associated with the early development ofBelgian cinema. At the request ofCharles Pathé (Pathé Cinémas), the directorAlfred Machin established the country's firstfilm studio there. Stretching across a meadow from theChaussée de Gand/Gentsesteenweg to the Karreveld velodrome, this studio consisted of glazed sheds with offices, dressing rooms, workshops for set construction, as well as a smallmenagerie of exotic animals, such as bears, camels and two panthers, for use as 'extras' in films. Some twenty early Belgian feature films, includingSaïda a enlevé Manneken-Pis [fr;nl],La Fille de Delft [fr] andMaudite soit la guerre (in hand-painted colours), were shot and produced there.[2][4]
In 1930, the municipality of Molenbeek purchased the 16-hectare (40-acre) estate from the House de Villegas. Part of the land was redeveloped for urban projects including the extension of the surrounding boulevards and avenues—Boulevard Louis Mettewie/Louis Mettewielaan,Avenue de la Liberté/Vrijheidslaan,Avenue du Karreveld/Karreveldlaan, etc.—and the construction of villas, while then-mayorEdmond Machtens [fr;nl], elected in 1939, commissioned studies for the castle's restoration.[2]
Restoration and reconstruction took place between 1952 and 1958, including new foundations, rebuilding of the main structures, and landscaping of the surrounding park with formal gardens, trees, and ponds.[3] The estate was classified as ahistoric site on 10 November 1955[1] and inaugurated in 1958. Since then, Karreveld Castle has functioned as a municipal and cultural venue, hosting public events, exhibitions, and municipal offices.[2][5]
Every summer, from mid-July to September, the castle grounds host theFestival Bruxellons! [fr], a theatre festival open to otherperforming arts (i.e. magic, music, circus, etc.). Created in 1999, at the initiative of the municipality of Molenbeek, this festival has grown to offer up to thirty shows for a total of around 100 performances each summer. The programme is centred on Belgian artists and on a popular theatre dynamic that aims to share the best of theatre with as many people as possible.[6]
The Blue Flamingo – Jazz Festival is a cycle of seasonal events dedicated tojazz. It has been co-produced by the municipality of Molenbeek since 2010. The concerts offered take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, three or four weekends a year.[7]
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Media related toCastle farm of Karreveld at Wikimedia Commons
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