Loppem Castle
Loppem Castle, built between 1859 and 1863, is one of the most authentic neo-Gothic castles in Belgium. It was designed by the French architect Viollet-le-Duc and the Belgian church architect Jean-Baptiste Bethune. The castle preserves its original interior with 19th-century furniture, paintings, and sculptures. Historically it is also known because King Albert I formed the government of national unity here in 1918.
Accessibility is partial. The main entrance has several steps; a portable ramp is available via which wheelchair users can enter the ground floor. The representative salons, the dining room, and the chapel are fully viewable on this floor. The upper floors, which house the bedrooms and the historical museum, are inaccessible due to narrow stairs. The castle park has a mix of gravel and grass paths.
An adapted toilet is present in the visitor area. There is a large car park with disabled parking spaces near the entrance. The park also contains a small maze and an ice house. From Loppem, a wheelchair-friendly outing to Bruges is very easy. The castle is furthermore surrounded by wide farmlands and paved country roads that invite quiet cycling discoveries.
Good to know
- Reservation
- Tickets are bought at the desk; on arrival let the staff know that you are a wheelchair user so they can install the portable ramp at the main entrance.
- Busy and quiet times
- On Sundays in the tourist season the castle gets busy; weekdays remain quiet and give plenty of time to enjoy the representative salons.
- Things to note
- The ground floor with salons, dining room and chapel is fully accessible via the mobile ramp; the upper floors with bedrooms and museum are only reachable via narrow stairs.
- Visit tip
- The castle park has a mix of gravel and grass; stick to the paved paths for comfortable wheelchair rolling and combine with a flat outing to the centre of Bruges.
Visited this place in a wheelchair? Share your experience
Similar locations
Iconic medieval tower on the Markt of Bruges, UNESCO World Heritage site with limited accessibility to the top....
Rebuilt belfry on the Grote Markt of Diksmuide, UNESCO World Heritage site in a fully reconstructed Westhoek town....
Free-standing belfry on the Grote Markt of Kortrijk, UNESCO World Heritage site with level surroundings. Wheelchair...