Kasteel Leva

Kasteel Leva is a small castle in Terkoest, a village belonging to the municipality of Alken in the Belgian province of Limburg, standing at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat 40. What visitors see today is not a medieval fortress but a white villa built in 1938 on the grounds of a much older estate.

What is the history behind this site?

The predecessor of today's building, known as Kasteel Saren, already appears on maps dating from 1771–1777 and later on plans from 1844, showing the site was occupied long before its 20th-century rebuild. In 1848 the estate was acquired by L. van Ham from nearby Sint-Truiden. An earlier owner, Michel Albert De Grady, had named the previous residence after his wife, Marie Agnès de Saren, which is why records from 1873 list the property as "Château de Groidy."

The estate's fortunes changed when it passed through the female line of inheritance to the Leva family, from whom the castle takes its current name. In 1938 the old building was demolished, and the Leva family built the new residence that still stands on the site today.

What does the castle's architecture look like?

The design of the new villa was entrusted to architect R. Gauthier. The building has an almost square footprint, enlivened by tower-like and bay-window extensions projecting from different facades. Varied roof shapes and domes crowning the towers are among its distinctive features. The walls were built of brick finished with white plaster, giving the building a light, bright appearance that clearly sets it apart from the region's typical brick residences. A columned gallery adorns the southwest-facing side.

What is notable about the surrounding park?

The villa is surrounded by a park laid out in the English landscape style, whose original design dates back to 1868 — meaning it predates the current villa and was created on the grounds of the earlier estate. In 1938, alongside the construction of the new residence, the park itself was modified. The entire estate covers 15 hectares, of which the park alone accounts for 2 hectares. It contains several noteworthy trees, including two beeches.

Is the castle legally protected?

Yes. Kasteel Leva has been formally designated as protected built heritage in Flanders, with the listing dated February 1, 2018. The protection covers both the 1938 villa itself and the park surrounding it.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kasteel Leva a medieval castle? No. The current building is a villa constructed in 1938 on the site of an earlier residence dating back to at least the 18th century.

Where does the castle's name come from? From the Leva family, who acquired the estate through female-line inheritance and commissioned the current villa.

Where exactly is Kasteel Leva located? In Terkoest, a village in the municipality of Alken, at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat 40, in the Belgian province of Limburg.

How large is the estate around the castle? The whole estate covers 15 hectares, of which the English-style park makes up 2 hectares.

Who designed the current building? Architect R. Gauthier, who created a design with an almost square plan, tower-like extensions, and domed roofs.