Ooidonk Castle — A fairytale moated castle in Deinze with beautiful gardens and accessible walking paths along the River Leie.
Ooidonk Castle
♿ Wheelchair accessible cultural site
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Ooidonk Castle

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♿ Wheelchair accessible

Ooidonk Castle is one of Belgium's most beautiful moated castles, set in an idyllic location along the River Leie in Deinze. This Renaissance castle with its characteristic stepped gables and round towers dates from the 16th century and is still inhabited. The beautifully maintained French gardens and surrounding park estate provide an enchanting setting for a walk or a quiet day out. From April to September, the gardens are open daily except on Mondays and Tuesday mornings.

Wheelchair accessibility is good for the outdoor estate. The walking route around the castle can be completed well by wheelchair, provided you follow the cobblestone road towards the castle. The gardens are largely flat and well maintained. The car park has sufficient disabled parking spaces. However, the castle interior is less accessible for wheelchair users, as visitors can only enter with a guide and the building contains historic staircases.

The castle is only open to visitors on Sunday afternoons and may be closed during private events. Photography is not permitted inside. The combination of historic architecture, beautiful gardens and the location on the River Leie makes Ooidonk Castle a remarkable destination, with the outdoor estate being particularly well suited for a wheelchair walk.

Good to know

Reservation
The castle interior is only accessible on Sunday afternoons in a group with a guide; the gardens and park can be visited without reservation during opening hours.
Busy and quiet times
In summer and on sunny weekends the gardens are busy; weekday mornings (apart from closing on Monday and Tuesday morning) are much quieter.
Things to note
The outdoor estate and gardens are easily navigable; the castle interior contains historic staircases and is hard to access for wheelchair users.
Visit tip
Follow the paved cobblestone road from the car park to the castle and focus your visit on the French gardens and the banks of the River Leie; photography is not permitted inside.
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