Kasteel van Mesen → Urban exploration in Belgium (and elsewhere)

April 2013

Nearly ten years after rediscovered urbex, I never would have thought to have the chance to see it in "real". So three years ago, I put it from the list of places that are gone too soon for me. But I wanted to have a clear heart and the game was worth it.

Its long history begins in the Middle Ages (9th or 10th century). After losing his defensive role, it will turn in manor craft, manufacturing, school and boarding school for girls.
Belonging to the Ministry of Defense, it will let it rot for over forty years. Once again, our ministers have earned their place... All attempts at protection have been unsuccessful, including a total protection attempt in 1979 but quickly canceled due to a procedural error.

The Marquizaat during the 19th century, before the construction of neo-Gothic buildings

When we apprehend the castle across the park, the castle still knows hiding among the vegetation. And suddenly, his impressive mass appears to you.
He will see his vast chapel and the south wing (which seemed to be the least damaged part) destroyed in 2010, reducing its surface half. This chapel, in fact, was a small miracle : for forty-one years, stained glasses will remain almost intact. When you see the state of decay of the rest is to ask how...

On the other hand, from the street, the show is painful to see. Enthroned in the middle of a construction site, we discovered the devastated tower's wing. Just next door, only the Dutch Pavilion's chimney was believed advisable to retain and opposite, a new building is wasting this historic place in the place of the chapel.
Why did they leave ruins in agony ? The last remnants are no longer recoverable.

Aerial view a few years before the first phase of demolition in 2010

However, this visit gives me great pleasure. Even if I wanted to spend more time indoors, but it would have been unreasonable to go on upper floors as the building condition is precarious. Recent demolitions had still affected a little more stability of the building and Only basements are still apparently healthy. It is always better than nothing...
Discovered in 2004, half demolished in 2010, visited in 2013. Too much wait, that's what we lose...

The chapel in 1975

Edit

In mid-2015, demolition work unfortunately resumed. Thus, it's the remains of the east wing (tower wing) that disappear.
A vague stabilization project for the Marquizaat is mentioned but without concrete follow-up (as since the abandonment in the 1970's). At this time, only the former marquisate remains standing, in a state of utter ruin.
In January 2016, what remained of the rear facade collapsed (except for one bay) and, as if that were not enough, a storm knocked down the entire right part of the main facade at the end of March 2016, a facade which no longer had any support since the demolition of the neo-Gothic wing. The famous colonnade therefore still survives, but it has almost no support.

The Marquizaat in 2018...
Benoit Brummer

We will have to wait a little longer to finally see stabilization work undertaken. Of the fantastic site, all that remains is a ruined facade.
This is the respect given to a site that has been occupied for over 1000 years.