Bouchout Castle - First Maps

First Maps

The illustration of Jan Baptist Gramaye in his work Gallo-Brabantia is the oldest known illustration and reveals Bouchout Castle in the first decade of the 17th century. It was Christoffel d'Assonville (1528–1606) who bought the castle in 1590 from Joanna Transylvan and restored "Bocholdia Castrum" into its glorious medieval state. Major restorations were carried out including the transformation of the five original canals into one surrounding pond. Note the very long drawbridge which is also described in the 14th century. It may however been drawn out of perspective, since the bridge appears to be about twice as long as the Donjon tower, which is about 20 meters heigh. The castle displays a rectangular structure with defensive towers at each corner including the Donjon which is still preserved today. The main building is at the back of the inner courtyard.

D'Assonville was one of the most loyal ministers during the Spanish period and he is believed to be part of the assault on the Prince Wiliam of Orange in 1584. In 1605, the Bouchout Domain was raised into a Barony enabling Christoffel d'Assonville to become a member of the Council of Brabant.

In 1626, Peter Verbist produced a detailed copper etching of the Duchy of Brabant. The Barony of Bouchout ("Bochout") can be found at a distance of about 7 miles to the north of Brussels (to the right at the map). This detailed map also displays Grimbergen (the former Berthout Castle) and Steinhussle, the territory of the related Diepensteyn Castle. The homeland of the founding fathers of Bouchout Castle is about 5 miles to the east of Brussels and includes the villages Crainhem, Sterbeeck and Nossegem.

Maps of the Bochout castle
Bocholdia Castrum as published in the Gallo-Brabantia by J.B. Gramaye in 1606. This drawing displays the Castle after it has been restored by Christoffel d'Assonville (1590–1600).
Detail from the Duchy of Brabant including the Bouchout Barony (Bochout). This copper etching was produced by Peter Verbist in 1628. The Bochout domain is 7 miles to the north of Brussels (to the right), while the homeland of the founding fathers, the Craaynhem family, is about 5 miles to the east (below).
Gravure Castellum Bouchaut made by Jacobys Harrewijn in 1706. This copper etching displays Bouchout Castle after its "Rennaissance makeover" by Peter-Ferdinand Roose at the end of the 17th century.

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