Croy

English translation

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Description

Description

MAIN BUILDING (Kasteel Croy). The brick castle surrounded by a moat consists of an early 15th-century rectangular north-west wing with round corner towers (c.1468), and perpendicular to it a square south-west wing dating from c.1500 and presumably constructed on older foundations (two building bodies) with two towers against the south-east facade and a tower beside the access gate on the north-east side; the architectural design has similarities with Lower Rhine brick architecture. The courtyard was roofed over in the 17th century and connected to the residential wing. The dated anchors from 1599 in the south wing presumably refer to a rebuild. All windows were altered in the 18th century. Restoration 1977. The north-west wing consists of a basement and two storeys beneath a gabled roof tiled with red pantiles between a pointed and a stepped gable; beneath the roof mouldings a rounded arch frieze on corbels. The frieze continues in the round tower on the west corner; the masonry of the tower is covered at the level of the ridge line by a tent roof. On the south corner an arch or start of a spiral stair tower. Regular layout with multi-light windows. The south-west wing likewise consists of a basement and two storeys beneath gabled roofs tiled with red pantiles on the south-east side ended by crenellated Gothic stepped gables, the right one dating from the mid-18th century; beneath the roof mouldings a pointed arch frieze with trefoils on corbels. The south corner tower, constructed on an octagonal ground plan, consists of three sections separated by drip mouldings beneath a low octagonal spire (originally a high spire); the second section has mostly blocked pointed arch windows with stone tracery and the tall third section is provided with elongated pointed arch recesses. The east corner tower, like the tower to the right of the entrance - both towers flank the entrance - has a round base transitioning into a projecting octagonal building body, with the transition accentuated by a pointed arch frieze. The three sections of the east tower are provided with spacious pointed arch recesses in which a window is placed. The right tower likewise has this treatment, except on the third section which is provided with coupled spandrels; this tower was heightened in the 17th century and provided with a spire with onion-shaped crown. Between the towers is the single-axis access section consisting of a double panel door placed in a rectangular recess with rounded arch transom light set in a frame (c.1790) above it a rounded arch upper-floor window. In the INTERIOR of particular importance is the late-18th-century decoration in Louis XVI style, notably the round hunting room next to the entrance with Louis XVI pilaster panelling and stucco work with hunting emblems; the hall with 18th-century stucco work. North-west wing with cellars with barrel vaults and gun ports.

Valuation

MAIN BUILDING (Kasteel Croy) of general importance:

- on account of its age;

- on account of the late Gothic character of the building which is particular and fairly unique for Brabant;

- on account of the few well-preserved interior components from the 18th century;

- on account of the image-determining location within the historical layout;

- on account of the functional-spatial relationship with the other components of the country estate.