After Visit Flanders became the owner of the Poeke Castle in Aalter, a plan of action for its redevelopment had to be worked out. CityD was commissioned to investigate various ideas for feasibility, desirability and other factors. In the meantime, the plans have been announced.

In September 2021, Visit Flanders took over the beautiful heritage site from the municipality of Aalter. Since then, works have been carried out to expand and revive this site, in the philosophy of Travel to Tomorrow.

Reallocation

To give direction to the redevelopment of the castle and associated domain, CityD was commissioned to investigate which functions would suit the domain and whether they were financially and practically feasible.

We elaborated on the information gathered by Visit Flanders from local residents and stakeholders through a participatory process. Especially the combination between the castle itself and the green domain around it needed to be made. Economic functions go hand in hand with culture, in which the upstairs-downstairs theme has an important place.

Poeke Castle will become a 'court of plaisance' where pleasure is the main focus. 

Its new future as a country estate where you can unwind and enjoy beauty, fascinating heritage experiences and good company appeals to a wide audience. Historically, too, the estate was a sprawling country retreat for noble families or wealthy citizens. On the estate and in the castle, visitors will be able to experience the historical separation between the worlds of the noble family and the servants (or 'upstairs-downstairs'). And as in the past, the estate will continue to be multifunctional, self-sufficient and self-sustaining.

Brasserie, restaurant, reception and service point, workshops and experience trail

In the area of the coach house, there will be a family-friendly brasserie with a large and sunny terrace. There will also be a reception and service point for walkers and cyclists and spaces for workshops. The vegetable garden and orchard will be an interesting and educational place for visitors as you will also find historical or exclusive fruits and vegetables. 

Inside the castle itself, there will be a family-friendly and interactive 'upstairs-downstairs' experience trail that zooms in on those separate worlds and also introduces visitors to the history of the estate. In line with the story, the castle will also accommodate a gourmet restaurant that will be closely linked to the vegetable garden. There will also be room for an exhibition space for temporary exhibitions and a seminar room for lectures and meetings.

Finally, on the castle grounds, there will be plenty of space for nature experiences, a play forest, picnic areas, outdoor workshops and small-scale events, a dog-walking zone and a food forest. The north-west side of the domain will remain a quiet zone for nature lovers.

Meanwhile, renovation works have started on the estate. Now that the future function is known, a new phase in the redevelopment of the castle domain is starting. Visit Flanders is establishing contacts with interested partners for the concrete elaboration and interpretation.

Also interested in redevelopment? Would you like to know more about our tourism and leisure and real estate and area development pillars and the support we can offer you with our CityD brand? Contact us for a no-obligation (digital) appointment!

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