Wissekerke Castle Discovery Tour
Dress up that mediaeval castle in the latest trends!
A hundred years ago, the owners of Wissekerke Castle gave their estate a thorough makeover to suit the fashions of the time. We’ve continued their work with a brand new discovery tour.
Citizen participation: check! Immersive projections and state-of-the-art experiences: check! Forgotten stories in the spotlight: check, check, check! We came up with a design that both resonated with the atmosphere in the castle and reflected the wishes of the local community.
Castles of the Scheldt
The renovation of Wissekerke Castle is part of Tourism Flanders’ wider ambition to put seven castles and areas of natural beauty along the River Scheldt in the spotlight, as surprising showpieces between the well-known tourist magnets of Het Steen in Antwerp and the Castle of the Counts in Ghent.
Our assignment for Wissekerke Castle was to upgrade the entire site: the castle and the surrounding park. We started with a study at macro level, conducted in partnership with the architectural firm Team van Meer. How would we strengthen the estate’s identity and preserve its historic character? Who uses the castle today, and what are their dreams? We talked to residents, guides, event organisers, local businesses and schools.
Conversations with the stakeholders generated exciting ideas and relevant concerns.
Trendsetters in Wissekerke
The discovery route focuses on the family that owned the castle in the 19th century. Count Philippe Vilain XIIII (1778-1856) and Countess Zoé de Feltz (1780-1853) converted the mediaeval fortress of Wissekerke into a stylish, fashionable castle. The pair also made their mark on the politics of their time – he on the political mainstage, she behind the scenes. Our new discovery route reverses the roles, putting Zoé in the spotlight.
The dining table is set for a celebration.
Layers of experience
Secret passageways, atmospheric balconies, a fancy drawing room to show off and a study to retire to. Wisselkerke Castle is an eclectic building where every room feels like it dates from a different age. We have made grateful use of these ‘clashes in style’ to bring various facets of Zoé’s life story to the fore. We also vary the way we tell our stories.
In the ‘secret passage’ to the kitchen, we project a short shadow play on the walls.
In the music room, projections create a completely different atmosphere: intimate and personal. It is as if you were looking over Zoé’s shoulder as she pores over her family album or writes a letter.
In the drawing room, you get to know Zoé and her guests better. A touchscreen focuses on four items from the collection: choose a suitable gift and climb the social ladder! Another touchscreen zooms in on a festival in the village. Can you find all the celebrations? When you do, the fireworks start!
The story of Belgium
Other rooms immerse visitors in the turbulent years of Belgian history during the first half of the 19th century. The Vilain XIIII family maintained good relationships with the powerful figures of their time. The discovery route takes you from convivial upper class gatherings to the climax of the Belgian Revolution.
We incorporated new glass fronts into the castle’s historical archive cabinets, creating a safe place for star items such as Napoleon’s jewels or the handwritten letter from King Leopold I.
In an activity wall with flippable panels, you can discover surprising facts about powerful figures.
What sparked a revolution in our region? A three-dimensional timeline brings the growing tensions to life.
The violence in Brussel drove the family to flee to Wissekerke Castle. A film in three scenes, presented on the walls of Salon Vilain XIIII with ‘projection mapping’.
Tell the stories of Belgium’s founding fathers! Make everyone proud of the heroes who defended our democracy!
Maartje van der Laak, historian
Eclectic castle in form and colour
The interior of Wissekerke Castle sparkles again with all its former glory. The formal language and material of the historical furnishings inspired our design. Curved shapes, slender legs, elegant details. Daring colours, different in every room. We took our colour samples around the castle to determine the most prominent tints in each room. We incorporated those colours into our designs. We used lacquered steel, painted birch wood and modern textiles. This contemporary design brought the discovery route into perfect alignment with the interior, whilst giving the visitor a clear sense of which additions are new.
3 x different!
We came up with three completely different audio stories for Wissekerke Castle. For adults, Zoé de Feltz is the guide. Teens have a musical adventure. Children explore a talking castle, with funny conversations between a bedpan and a chamber pot, or the two sides of a door.
Greetings from Wissekerke Castle - with a quill and ink!
The discovery tour was developed as a co-creation with local residents. Read all about it in our blog.
