Empty Castle Van Moregem in Lijglaie: « Due to the risk of collapse, we leave the castle in a controlled burning out » (Wortegem-Petegem)
The castle along the Heerbaan in Moregem burned like a torch. – © PDV
The castle of Moregem, which has been a ruin for decades, was lit at around 3 o'clock on Sunday morning. The emergency services arrived en masse. “But we can't do much. We let the castle burn out in a controlled manner and focused on securing the environment, « it sounds.
The emergency services were alerted around 3 o'clock on Sunday morning for a fierce fire in the eighteenth-century castle of Moregem along the Heerbaan and Koestraat in Moregem, part of Wortegem-Petegem. A fire glow could already be seen from far away. The castle, also known as 'the yard spot of Flanders', has been nothing more than a ruin for decades. The fire brigade came to the scene with the medical services of the AZ Oudenaarde and the local police Flemish Ardennes.
The fire brigade had the castle burned out in a controlled manner. – © PDV
« On arrival, the castle was already in light, » explains the Oudenaardse fire brigade captain Koen Desmet. “The castle, which has not been inhabited for years, was no longer allowed to enter for safety reasons. Now we can certainly not approach the castle, in view of the risk of collapse. The safety of the men is preceded. We will have the castle burned out in a controlled manner and focus on securing the environment. ”
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The castle is on private terrain in a grove. There are no houses in the immediate vicinity. For the fire brigade it was quite a job to get fire extinguishing water to the castle. A setup with pipes was made from the Donkvijver in Oudenaarde. Fire brigades of Oudenaarde, Kruisem and Zottegem were busy. The municipal emergency planning was started, in view of the size of the fire, the large -scale deployment of emergency services and the long -term closing of the Heerbaan. Because water is supplied from the Donkvijver, there is also traffic nuisance in Kortrijkstraat.
The fire brigade had to build water hoses from the Donkvijver in Oudenaarde. – © PDV
The cause of the fire is unclear. There were no more utilities in the dilapidated castle and therefore no electricity. Evil intent is not excluded.
The castle of Moregem was built at the end of the eighteenth century on behalf of Baron van Hoobrouck de Mooreghem. The castle was badly damaged during the Second World War. The last noble resident was Baroness Ruzette van Caloen de Basseghem. In 1997 the castle and the surrounding park were protected as a village view. But then the castle was in decline.
For example, the Castle of Moregem had been there for decades. – © PDV
The current owners, who got hold of the castle through a donation, had to answer for the correctional court in 2013 because they let the castle go further. The Flemish Region demanded the restoration in its original state. The cost of a restoration was then estimated at least 12.5 million euros, an amount that could not possibly pay the owners. The court spoke to them free, partly because there was no evidence of the building physical condition of the castle when it was protected.
The Castle of Moregem is in private hands. – © PDV
