We had lunch in the Vervoordt’s castle, which he bought in 1984, having last changed hands in 1729:-
The sun obligingly came out not just on the Castle, but on the landscape garden:-
The interior is highly atmospheric – a combination of historic interiors, good furniture and modern paintings, arranged with an intelligent eye.
This is the hall:-
The room next to the hall:-
A room full of books (I like that):-
And the view out of the window into the garden:-
The chapel in the tower:-
The room which shows off the ceramics which he bought from the wreck of the Geldermalsen, known as ‘the Nanking Cargo’:-
This is the room where we had lunch:-
The top floor is done in a style that Vervoordt describes as ‘wabi’, based on the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi which values simplicity in everyday objects:-
Even the basement is beautiful:-
As I left, we photographed the sheep:-
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
Lucky you – and thank you for the detailed photos. I love the idea of wabi sari but our lodge is the complete opposite to it.
Sorry for typo – wabi sabi !!
What an exquisite place. I echo Ms. Woodhead’s comments above – thank you.
Yes, indeed, thank you for the stunning photos. Living in a place like Tasmania, as I do, it’s wonderful to be able to immerse myself in such fascinating examples of European culture – of which I am starved, except for when we come to the UK each year for a few weeks. I’m so glad I discovered your blog and look forward to every post.
Thank you, Charles. Gravenwezel is new to me. I’ll go and look it up on Google but anything else you can tell us to accompany your wonderful photopgraphs would be very welcome.
Not much to say, apart from the fact that it’s mainly fourteenth century, with an eighteenth-century park and facade, and is open to the public twice a year – and that it’s extraordinarily beautiful. Charles
Absolutely stunning — and when I get the dates of the public opening, I am putting it in my diary and going…… perhaps you would lead a tour?????
Yes, I had wondered about a tour ! Charles