HISTORICAL NOTE - Castle "Alden Biesen" at Bilzen (9-kms east of Diepenbeek) was one of the commandries of the Teutonic Order (Deutscher Order), founded in Palestine during the Third Crusade (1189-1192) as a field hospital in order to care for the wounded. After the conquest of Acre the brothers, mainly from Bremen and Lübeck, the brothers had a personal home in the city, intended for the care of the pilgrims from the German Empire. In 1198 the brotherhood was transformed into an order of knighthood under a monastic and military rule like that of the Templars or the Knights of Malta. The new Order could rely on the protection of the German emperors and the pope. Particularly because the advance of the Turks, resulting in the fact that the Holy Land was lost for good in 1291, the Order had to quit Palestine. Meanwhile military and charitable activities were developed in the German Empire, France, Spain and Greece. The Order had a marked military structure with a grand master at its head. The various possessions were grouped in landcommandries (provinces) under the leadership of a landcommander. In 1220 Arnold III, count of Loon (nearly the whole area of the actual province of Belgian Limburg), made a donation of the chapel of Biesen with all its appurtenances in Rijkhoven (now part of the municipality Bilzen) to the Teutonic Order. But also other nobles from Loon, Liège and Brabant gave goods to the Teutonic Order. That was the origin of the commandry of Biesen with possessions from Bekkevoort to Voeren, from Sint-Truiden to Maastricht. The headquarters of the landcommandry Biesen were transferred to Maastricht in 1362, called New Biesen, so that the old settlement in Rijkhoven was called up from now Alden Biesen. Here, in Rijkhoven, the knights and the priests let start in 1332 the construction of a water castle based on three gothic caves which are still in place today. The citadel, the castle moat, the hall, the manor-house, the farm and the storehouse date from the 15^th century. The chapel, in post-renaissance style, was added between 1634 and 1638. Initially the arrival of the French and the brutal secularisation of the possessions of the province of Biesen in 1797 did not mean the end of the activities of the commandry. Although the possessions in this area were lost, the knights who still remained continued their work on the commandries in Germany that had not yet been suppressed as this time. A sizeable amount of the money was on an account in the Bank of Vienna. However, the abolition of the Order in the German Empire in 1809 put an end to the Teutonic Order's six centuries of involvement in the Low Countries. The few knights, priests and civil servants that remained were integrated into various other structures. Some knights ended up in the province of Austria, while the priests were once again able to get involved in the care of their parishes after the Concordat between Napoleon and the Church. Several former civil servants found their way into the administrative machinery set up by the authorities. We had to wait 1971 to see the Flemish government buying Alden Biesen and to transform it in a cultural centre. In the castle they created a congres room, two conference rooms, 65 double rooms for guests, a restaurant, three meeting rooms, etc. The guest rooms (1000 BF/night) can only be used by groups organising a cultural manifestation within the castle. Since slot-racing is not considered as such, our racers cannot be lodged in the castle. It should have been a unique experience.

PRACTICAL INFO - The castle is daily open between 9.00h and 19.00h. For the visit of the French garden and the hall you have to pay 120 B.F., all the rest is free. You reach Bilzen and Rijkhoven by taking the E313 main way from Diepenbeek direction Liège (Luik). "Alden Biesen" is by car at less than 15 minutes from the raceway at Diepenbeek. It is the biggest castle in Western-Europe.

Photo special "Alden Biesen"

 2. Bokrijk

Bokrijk is an Open Air Museum of mainly rural architecture at Genk, next to Hasselt, with more than 100 buildings, some of them being reconstructions of urban houses. A number of important examples of rural architecture in Belgium (mostly dating from the early 18^th century) have been preserved and moved to Bokrijk. Several of these have had their external wall coverings removed so that one can see the structure of their frames. Iron nails were seldom used. Posts and beams were joined with mortise and tenon joints, which were pegged with wooden dowels. (The early American colonists called these "treenails'.) At Bokrijk one can see and above all experience, how our ancestors lived, how the craftsmen worked, etc. From March 30 thru October 27 you even can enjoy the country crafts of a potter, a blacksmith, a cartwright, a sawyer and many more. They are dotted throughout the four little villages that make up the museum. Hundreds of animals (sheep, cows, horses, donkeys,…) bring the scene to life. Unfortunately the Open Air Museum is closed in November, so that you cannot visit the cottages. The playground at Bokrijk has just been completely renovated and now also includes a tiny tots' village, a huge slide complex, a giant spiders' web, etc. Belgium's biggest park also offers you mini-cars, mini-golf, football pitches and tennis courts during the season, unfortunately not in November. But even without the seasonal activities a walk at Bokrijk, the green lung of Limburg, is an unforgettable experience. The leafy arboretum - still open in November - is a must for all gardening fans. The new botanical garden tells of the magical and curing properties of herbs. Or else, you can just stroll quietly among the hedgerows. Access is free, but pay attention that the Bokrijk Park is in November only open during the week-end. Pictures: (© Jean Servais & Henri Colemonts).

Pictures reproduced from the official web site of Alde Biesen (cf. http://www.alden-biesen.be, Domein Bokrijk (cf. http://www.limburg.be/bokrijk/bokrijk.html) and Jean Servais & Henri Colemonts (cf. http://www.netpar.com.br/colemonts/belgica/bokrijk1.htm).

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