Kasteel Van Marke

Kortrijk, Belgium

---

Kasteel Van Marke is a stately manor located in the Marke district of Kortrijk, Belgium. It was built between 1802 and 1807 as a summer residence for linen merchant François van Ruymbeke and his wife Marie-Thérèse Delebecq. The castle is designed in the Directoire style with architectural influences from Andrea Palladio, giving it an Italian character especially highlighted by its belvédère.

The interior reflects a transition from Directoire to Empire styles with motifs inspired by ancient Egypt, and the building features a distinctive round staircase that spirals to the second floor. Surrounding the manor is an English-style landscape garden designed by Benjamin Dewarlez, including an orangerie now used as a library, stables, a gardener's house, and a coach house.

The estate has been owned by the De Bethune family since its construction and is recognized as a protected cultural heritage site, preserving its 19th-century charm and architectural elegance.