Norman Castle Park
Located in the upper basin of the Zwalm Valley, this neo-classical castle lies hidden within a protected village landscape. The site serves as the headquarters of the Saint Francis convent order. The sister community began as a school in the castle, on a moated estate originally designed as a romantic landscape park and later partially adapted with formal stylistic elements. Throughout the past century, the secondary school with boarding facilities has been expanded in a variety of architectural styles. The modernist chapel, neo-Gothic and Art Deco salons, and the reuse of two pavilions from Expo ’58 are just a few of the most remarkable examples of its architectural heritage. The site’s landscape treasures include the 16th-century gatehouse, the moat, the tree-lined avenue, the island with grotto, and the extensive collection of mature trees.
Today, there is an imbalance between the growing school population and the capacity of the estate. Daily traffic within the grounds has caused severe stress on the avenue’s linden trees and other species, with soil compaction leading to suffocation of the roots, while the beech trees are suffering from drought stress. These are just some of the challenges facing the site. The area is also prone to flooding, affecting both buildings and landscape. Additionally, there is a need for new facilities and a comprehensive vision for the reorganization and renovation of the existing infrastructure. A master plan was developed to analyze these issues and outline phased strategic solutions within a management plan. The first phase, focusing on landscape restoration and the renovation and expansion of several buildings, has already begun.
A large-scale soil improvement project (2022) for the entire park has already shown positive effects, revitalizing many of the monumental trees. A clear distinction has been made between zones for extensive and intensive maintenance, and the historic stinzenflora has been reintroduced. The sculpture The Girl with the Conch was restored by Lapis Arte. Currently, roof renovation works on the neo-classical castle are underway.
