Introduction
Horst is a half-ruined Flemish Renaissance castle set on the edge of a lake, 6km south of Aarschot.
History
The origins of the castle are unclear. A "castellum Rode" is mentioned in 1100, but the name Horst does not show up until 1268.
Like most late medieval castle built in a plain, Horst castle was constructed as an irregular polygon surrounded by a wide moat. Nevertheless, all the feudal castle but the dungeon burnt down in 1489 during the war between Emperor Maximilian of Austria and the citizens of Leuven.
A Renaissance-style castle was rebuilt in the late 16th century, keeping the original layout. Horst castle was only inhabited until the mid-17th century, and as a result there is no furniture inside nowadays.
The castle passed by inheritance to the Merode family in 1712, then to the Thiennes de Lombize, Ribaucourt, then to the Count of Hemricourt de Grunne in 1922, and finally to the Count Cornet d'Elzius in 1972.
Haunted castle
The locals say the ghost of the lord of Rode comes back everyday at midnight in a carriage pulled by six wild horses.
The soul of the legendary 15th century lord cannot find rest for having murdered a priest.
Two versions of the story exist. The first one says that the priest had started the mass in the castle before the arrival of the lord, and this latter, angered by the priest's disrespect, cut his throat on the spot.
The second version has it that the priest had had an affair with the beautiful wife of the lord.
Opening Hours & Admission
Horst castle is open from 1 April to 31 October from 2 pm to 6 pm on Sundays and national holidays. It is also open from Wednesday to Friday during the academic Easter and Summer holidays from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Admission is 4 € per person. However this price is abusive considering that there is nothing to see inside apart from a few mythological scenes moulded on the ceiling. All the interior in a poor state of repair and is not furnished at all. It is rather recommended to walk around the castle and its lakes (free of charge), from where you can get nice views of the castle.
How to get there
The castle is in the village of St-Pieters-Rode between Aarschot and Leuven.
By car, take either the N2 (Brussels-Hasselt) and exit for St-Joris-Winge, or the E314 (Leuven-Aachen), take exit 22 and turn on the right to on the N223 towards St-Pieters-Rode.
Using public transports, you should first get to Aarschot by train (40 to 65 min from Brussels, 11 min from Leuven), then take bus 10 to Sint-Pieters-Rode.
Access Map
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