Kasteel Le Paige

Kasteel Le Paige is a small castle set within its own arboretum, located north of the town centre of Herentals in Belgium, on Nederrij street. The whole estate, known as Domein Le Paige, carries the name of the family who owned it for generations and shaped it into what visitors see today.

Where does the name come from?

The Le Paige name arrived in Herentals in the early 18th century, when the physician François Thomas Le Paige settled there and obtained citizenship of the town in 1726. His descendants remained connected to the property for a long time, developing both the residence and the surrounding green grounds. The estate takes its present-day name from this family, and is also known under the variants Hof Le Paige and Kasteel Ter Vesten.

What does the building look like?

The current castle building dates from 1892. Its architecture combines elements of Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist styles, arranged in a neo-style composition typical of the late 19th century. This kind of historical mix was popular at the time among wealthy families who wanted their residences to look representative while drawing on several architectural periods at once.

What is inside the arboretum?

The story of the green part of the estate goes back to the early 19th century. When Henri Le Paige was born in 1806, his father planted thirty oak trees on the grounds — a symbolic gesture that marked the beginning of the arboretum, which continued to develop over the following decades. Today it holds more than seventy different tree species from around the world, making the grounds a notable stop for nature lovers as well as anyone looking for a quiet walk surrounded by greenery.

What is its purpose today?

The castle underwent a thorough restoration that was completed in 2000. Since then, the building has served a socio-cultural function, hosting around eight exhibitions a year. These exhibitions run for most of the year and are free to visit, making Kasteel Le Paige an accessible place for residents of Herentals and visitors to the region to engage with local culture and art.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kasteel Le Paige located? The castle stands north of the centre of Herentals, on Nederrij street, in the Antwerp province of Belgium.

Is admission free? The exhibitions held at the castle are free to visit.

What can be seen besides the building itself? The main draw alongside the castle's architecture is the surrounding arboretum, home to more than seventy tree species from around the world.

Where does the estate's name come from? From the Le Paige family, who settled in Herentals in the 18th century and remained connected to the property for generations.

When was the castle restored? Restoration work was completed in 2000, after which the building took on its current cultural role.