Heritage houses in Europe for kids : have fun visiting beautiful castles and houses in Europe.
Date: 2020-03-27
Institutions: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
Subjects: EU Member State, architectural heritage, historic site, history, housing

Heritage Houses 
in europe

FOR KIDS

Have fun visiting beautiful castles and houses in Europe  

© European Union, 2020

Malmgård 
Manor

Rumene 
Manor

Grades 
Castle

Bran 
Castle

T r a v e l   a n d 
d i s c o v e r   
b e a u T i f u l 
c a s T l e s   
a n d   h o u s e s 
i n   e u r o p e . . .

De Hoge 
Veluwe

Merode 
Castle

Domaine 
de Miravel

Villa Reale 
di Marlia

Palacio   Fronteira

Mas Cals 
de Fitor

 
De Hoge Veluwe

THe NeTHerlaNDs

A universal artwork (Gesamtkunstwerk)

The Country Residence/Museum Jachthuis Sint Hubertus  
is a V-shaped building designed by the architect Hendrikus  
Petrus Berlage (1856-1934). He also designed the grounds  
around the building, including a park with a large pond and  
a bridge extending over a portion of the pond. 

It was inspired by an English country house: including special quarters 
for each family member, such as the library, the smoking room, 
boudoirs, and the billiards room. The house had some very modern 
features for that time: a central heating system, an electric elevator, 
and even a central vacuum system!

Jachthuis Sint Hubertus

SCOOP
The distinctive tower  
of the Jachthuis was added  
at the request of the 
Kröller-Müllers, who  
wanted to enjoy sweeping 
views of the surrounding 
countryside.

Kröller Family

De Hoge Veluwe is a large estate created
by a couple, Helene and Anton Kröller. 
Jachthuis Sint Hubertus was completed in 1920. 
The couple used the house mainly as a country 
house. Only in their final years did it become 
their permanent residence.

Records !
 A park: 5,400 hectares of woodland, heathland,  
     drift sands and peat bogs, entirely fenced off. 

Van Gogh

 The largest contiguous actively managed nature reserve 
      in our country in private ownership.

 A historic house: The Country Residence/Museum Jachthuis  
      Sint Hubertus can be visited on the inside by booking a  
      guided tour.

 The Museonder offers a surprising look  
      at everything that lives and lived underground.

 The world-renowned Kröller-Müller Museum is located at  
      the centre of the park. You can discover masterpieces from  
      Van Gogh, Picasso and Mondrian.

  69 million euros economic impact on the region each year.

  615,000 visitors (2018)

  The park is home to many rare animals and plants:

   200 red deer, 150 roe dear, 50 wild boar,  200 mouflons 

(Corsican sheep).

4

5

MeroDe CasTle

BelgiuM

Inspired by Versailles

On his travels, mainly in Versailles, Jean Philippe Eugène 
de Merode (1674-1732) discovered the beauty of French 
gardens. That is why he designed the park in front 
of the castle in the early 18th century. He was also started 
to beautify the castle. The works in and around the castle  
were completed in 1721. 

The Merode family has owned the castle for more than 500 years.  
According to a document dating from around 994, Westerlo was  
at that time the property of Ansfried, Count of Leuven. 

One of his descendants became a monk and bishop of Utrecht  
and the castle came into possession of the Chapter Cathedral of Utrecht.  
Then, in 1620, the Merode family bought the property rights to  
the castle and to Westerlo. 

From then on, the Merode family bore the title  
of 'Count of Merode, Marquesses of Westerlo'. 

A noble family

With a pedigree of 27 
generations, the castle 
belongs to the oldest nobility  
in Belgium. Today the Prince 
Simon de Merode and his wife
 live in the castle with 
their 3 children. 

Moat

Dining room

One castle  
in several steps!

1   Wooden dungeon, set on a mound (year 1000).

2   Stone dungeon (ferruginous sandstone).  

An iron sandstone tower on its old foundations 
(feudalism period). The walls are thick 
(2.5 metres). Today the dungeon ceiling is  
10 metres high and the fireplaces are huge. 

3  Embellishment: French gardens, broad basin, 

new wings (1710-1721) 

4   The style is Renaissance and Gothic

6

7

 
PalaCio FroNTeira

PorTugal

Fronteira palace was built in Lisbon in around 1670, after the signature 
of a peace treaty with Spain which secured Portuguese independence 
(after 60 years of Spanish annexation). It was originally built as a 
summer residence where the Mascarenhas family used to go for  
hunting and recreation. 

During the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the main residence
of the Mascarenhas, in downtown Lisbon, was destroyed.  
The family moved to the palace.

Although it is classified as a national monument, it is the home 
of the descendants of  the first Marquis of Fronteira,  
who ordered the construction of the palace. 

The Battle room

The decoration in rocaille used  
different materials such as broken  
pieces of Ming porcelain. 

SCOOP

The legend says that king Pedro 
II was present at the inauguration 
of the palace in 1670. In order to 
celebrate this honour, the china 
used that evening to serve the king 
was broken  into pieces: nobody 
else would dine on the same  
china used by the king. 

Exceptional! 
Fronteira palace and 
its garden is inspired  
by the Italian Renaissance.

It holds the world's largest 
collection of 17th century 
“azulejos” (Portuguese 
tiles).

The palace is an ancient manor house preserved
 in a form very close to its original design. 

8

9

 
Grotto of Pan: co

ol i

n
t
h
e
 h
o

tter months

View from the Lemon Garden 

s
n
e
d

The nymphaeum in the gar

The two statues 
of giants lie in repose, 
representing the Arno 
and Serchio rivers

Villa reale Di Marlia

iTaly

Green Theatre

Scoop
Nicolò Paganini used to play 
the violin for Princess Elisa  
in the Green Theatre. 
 And the legend says that she 
fainted every time he played 
due to his talent. 

Villa Reale 

Villa Reale has been restored. The new owners are working to make it one of the leading attractions in Italy.

How did a Medieval fortress become 
a magnificent building?

Medieval age: It was a fortress, where the Duke of Tuscia lived. 

1651: The Buonvisi, a noble Lucchese family, transformed the 

fortress into a magnificent building. But in 1651, after their 

downfall, they sold it to the Orsetti family, who carried out 

modifications to the Villa and recreated the Park in a baroque 

style. 

1806-1814: Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleon’s sister, bought 

the property. From this point on, the Villa took the name “Reale” 

(Royal) from Elisa’s title as Queen of Etruria.

1847: The summer residence of the new count of Carlo Ludovico 
of Bourbon. When he abdicated, it passed into the hands of the 
King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, who decided to transfer it to 
the widow of Carlo of Bourbon. 

1923: Count and Countess Pecci-Blunt bought it. The famous 
French architect Jacques Greber restored the Park and gardens: 
woodland, streams, a lake and other bucolic features were 
created to complete and enrich the existing romantic picture 
created by the classic Italian gardens.

2015: A Swiss family bought the property in a state of 
aboundness and started huge renovation works to make the 
estate rebirth.

10

Lake 

Record!
The large fish pond 
is surrounded by a 
marble balustrade 
measuring 
20 by 10 metres

Fish pond

 Scoop

The famous Spanish 
painter Salvador Dalì used 
to spend his afternoons at 
the original liberty style 
swimming pool.

 
ruMeNe MaNor

laTVia

The story of Rumene Manor began early 
in 1397, with the  Master of the Teutonic 
Order and the early owners of the estate. 
For almost 700 years Baltic-German 
families owned and operated the estate  
and built successive manor houses and 
service buildings. 

e  herb garden

h
T

Lots to see!

  Nearly 8 hectares of park
  7 landscaped hectares
 

150 hectares of woods and 
agriculturale land  

  An organic vegetable and herb 
garden supplies the kitchen

  Lake
  364 original rare tree specimens, 

as well as an orchard and quaint 
gravel roads, as is typical in this 
type of rural landscape 

 12 auxiliary buildings and 
surrounding territory 

 Saving trees

12

The present manor house was built in 1876, 
in the neo-gothic style of the time, by the 
then owner Victor von Duesterlohe. His 
son established an extensive park, and built 
modern stables, a carriage house, service 
buildings and a large barn.

Expropriation
Starting with WW I, the estate  
went into decline. It was 
expropriated after the war. During 
the time of the Soviet occupation 
the building was used as a school, 
as the local collective farm central 
office, and as an election centre. 
A dairy farm and cheese-making 
operation was housed in the 
manor’s barn. 

In the 1890s, the park was designed by a well-known 
landscape architect, Georg Friedrich Kuphaldt.

13

DoMaiNe De MiraVel

FraNCe

The huge 'umbrella' pine tree, 
which is 36 metres high and 5 metres 
in circumference on the ground

Umbrella pine tree

The first 'Francois de Boissezon' was born at 'Graïs Mill' in Vieussan (c.1480).  
After the Revolution, two names appear regularly as Mayors, the Boissezons  
and the Moustelons, and the ownership of the watermill changed hands several  
times between the two families. It had been in ruins, but the Moustelon family  
doubled the capacity of the Mill to produce both olive oil and flour and restored  
the main house around 1820, the golden age of watermills in the area. 

The Boissezons bought the property back in 1870 and the last Boissezons to live  
here sold it in 1968 to a British family who took good care of the gardens and  
orchards and planted many interesting trees.

In 1998, Francois and Birgit de Boissezon were lucky to have the opportunity  
to buy the property back.

The dovecote, 
which looks like
a tower on top of the 
main building.

Old mill

SCOOP

Miravel is called a 'bat refuge' by 
the parc as there are 6-7 species 
of bats living and nesting at the 
house, some of them rare. They 
crowd together by hundreds 
particularly in the ancient mill 
- and are helpful in eating the 
mosquitos and providing guano 
 for the garden.

14

Domaine de Miravel is an ancient mill house next to the river Orb  
and the medieval villages of Vieussan and Boissezon 
in the Natural Regional Parc of Haut-Languedoc.

15

 
BraN CasTle

roMaNia

Count Dracula

The castle is known across the globe 
for the legend linked to it, as it was  
allegedly used by Bram Stoker  
as his model for Dracula’s Castle.

A stone citadel

The first written record of the Castle is an act issued  
by King Louis I of Anjou in 1377, giving the Saxons of Kronstadt 
(Braşov) the right to build a stone citadel at their own expense 
and with their own labour. The structure seen today was lar-
gely built by the Saxons from 1377 onwards. The Castle's main 
function was to be a defensive stronghold against the invading 
Turkish armies. It later also became a customs post controlling 
the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia.

16

Bran Castle was built from a combination  
of river stone, bricks and wood.



The Fountain
- In the 15th century the 
  fountain was dug by hand    
  through solid rock.
- 57 metres deep
- In the 1930s the top  
   was moved outside to the  
   courtyard, as Queen Marie  
   built an electric lift in the 
   old shaft.

17

Queen Marie
Queen Marie, King Ferdinand's wife,  
lived there at the beginning of the 
20th century. With the help of the Royal 
Court Architect, Karel Liman, the fortress 
became a home, the small medieval castle 
turned into a fairy tale. Two towers were 
added, the stoves and the firesides in the 
castle became fireplaces, the murder holes 
became windows, the castle was equipped 
with a lift and a fixed-line telephone!

Mas Cals De FiTor

Mas Cals, surrounded by nature

The rural house has been owned by the same family for over 1000 
years – and for 70 years by the current owners. The big difference 
compared to other historic houses is that the Cals family were not 
lords, but a local farming family with the rights to have their own 
house. 

sPaiN

Stories beside the fireplace

The fireplace is at least 1000 years old,  
and witnessed knowledge being passed  
down from grandparents to grandchildren.
Many stories about the house can be heard 
from Teresa, by the fireplace, around the 
fire, in autumn and winter after dinner.

Located 7 km from roads into 
the forest, the imagination runs 
wild through the deep forests.

The buildings have unusual, typically Catalan features.

SCOOP
In 2017, the house was the 
main location of the film PETRA, 
(Director Jaime Rosales), was presented 
in Cannes. The owner played one of the main 
characters. The house hosts a small museum: 
where you can see the film, visit locations 
on the estate (in a 4x4) with Director's 
comments; followed by lunch or dinner 
at Mas Cals. 

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A special place!
- The house is surrounded by a 
forest estate of 1000 ha.
- Cork production
- Silence and nature 
-The estate also uses solar energy

Cork harvest demonstration

MalMgårD MaNor

FiNlaND

Since 1614,  the estate has been owned by the Counts of Creutz. 
The current owners, the brothers Count Henrik and Fredrik 
Creutz and their families, are the 13th generation of owners  
of Malmgård Estate.

English Gardens

The English inspired gardens partially followed the 1884 
drawings of the gardener M.G. Stenius, but also the 1890 
drawings of landscape architect A.F. Rydberg. Several farm 
buildings date back to the late 18th century.

The English gardens

The Dutch new Renaissance inspired manor house was built in the 1880s, based on the drawings  
of architect F.A. Sjöström. The main building material is uncovered brick. 
There are two wings (single-storey) with elements of northern French Renaissance. 

The interiors are 
decorated in various 
historical styles with 
sumptuous wall  
and ceiling paintings.



   Specialities!
- Organic farming: organically                
   grown wheat, rye, barley, oats  
   and spelt
- Local foods
- Beer brewing: ales and cider 
- Forestry
- Hunting 

 Scoop
There are 52 rooms and 365 
windows. In other words,  
there are as many rooms as 
there are weeks in a year and 
as many windows as there are 
days in a year.

Organic cereals

21

graDes CasTle

Grades Castle 

ausTria

After the death of Saint Hemma in 1045, the church 
inherited the ancient valleys of Metnitz and Gurk in 
the Carinthian Alps. Celtic tribes and Romans lived 
here many centuries ago. The bishops of this area  
built a fortress to protect the entire valley 
against their enemies.

You can see lots of animals 
 in and around the old walls  
of the castle, such as falcons 
and stags.

22

A fortress 

Grades Castle was besieged many times 
without success. In the 17th and 18th century 
the bishops who lived here turned the 
fortress into a beautiful baroque castle with 
great stucco rooms. They added a tower 
and it became a prestigious castle. After 
nearly 1000 years the church sold the 
castle to the present owners, in 2015.

The main entrance, with a clocktower topped by an elegant onion dome. 
Through it you reach the irregular inner courtyard, surrounded  
by 4 wings: an impressive set of buildings.

Lots to do!

- Balls, parties, seminars
- Guided tours
- Concerts
- Exhibitions
- Music courses
- Cooking classes

 Scoop
An ancient story says 
 that the castle dog was  
and is the guardian of treasure 
hidden in the rocks  
of Grades.

Leopold, the dog

23

C
h
a
p

el with baroque stucco

R

estored ceiling painting by Fromiller, 1741

10 historic houses & castles to colour

HeriTage Houses For euroPe. exCHaNge & iNNoVaTe. 

Heritage Houses for Europe Heritage Houses for Europe is the first Pan-European Study on family-owned heritage 
houses. It is assessing their added value for Europe; as well as identifying innovative business models.
Historic houses are a treasure chest full of European culture and exemplify the notion of European heritage,  
which is worth persevering for future generations. 

This Study gives an improved understanding of the contributions of these houses, which form a dynamic sector providing 
quality jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; as well as cultural, social and environmental benefits to European 
citizens.

By deepening our understanding of the sector, the project provides intelligible information on how to better support it,  
and implement effective policies in this field. 

Strengthening synergies between family-owned heritage houses and European citizens to safeguard,  
develop and transmit cultural heritage is crucial for our continent. 

This project is a first important step and many more are required to preserve our common cultural heritage across Europe. 
It contributes to building the legacy of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage. 

This is a Preparatory Action of the European Parliament implemented by the European Commission. In July 2018, 
this project was awarded to the consortium European Landowners’ Organisation, the European Historic Houses 
Association and IDEA Consult.  

Project name: Open micro-business models for innovation in European family-owned heritage houses project.  
Project Number: EAC/2018/03 

The European Historic Houses (EHH) gathers 24 national associations of owners-managers  
of private historic houses and gardens in 22 European countries. We act as a platform sharing  
best-practices among our members; and work to promote our members’ interests in several  
policy areas.  EHH encourages citizens to acknowledge the enormous amount of effort, time,  
passion and money which owners put into saving and preserving heritage for the future.

The European Historic Houses has been one of the main partners of the project Heritage Houses for Europe.

Concept and text : Catherine de Duve
Illustrations and lay-out : Kate'Art Editions  
www.kateart.com
Coordination : Lucie Maret, European Historic Houses Association

ISBN: 978-92-76-15407-5

DOI: 10.2766/708530

NC-04-20-038-EN-N

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