I am originally from Ghent. We discovered this place when it was on sale in 2004. An hour after the viewing, we decided to buy it in view of its exceptional qualities. Fully classified as a historical monument (the building as well as the interiors and garden) it is the smallest private mansion in Ghent and one of the rare few that are still privately owned. It is also one of the best preserved.
As the former winter residence of the counts of Hane-Steenhuyze, the mansion boasts several eye-catching features including the Chinese living room, superb woodwork and gypseries, and a series of paintings by Pierre Norbert Van Reysscchoot. Few changes have been made since the end of the 18th century. The French garden with boxwood trees and a pond in the centre dates back to the thirties and was designed by René Péchere.
The mansion was built by Count Dane-Steenhuyze in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the Hotel was the residence of Baron Arthur Verhaegen, a notable figure of his time and a talented civil engineer. He was urged by his father-in-law, a fervent neo-Gothician, to join his movement which viewed the Gothic and the system of guilds as the ideal model of society. They sought to teach everyone a trade and confer on them the dignity of mastering an art and living a life without poverty. Faced with the misery of the people and the political chaos of the industrial revolution in the 19th century, the movement contributed to the nascent socialism of the time.
An intimate and confidential stay in a private mansion reserved only for the guests of the house, much like a small, private club. In the calm of a residential area close to the tourist center, the property is just a stone's throw from the museums, restaurants, and charming shops of the old town. The Verhaegen is a landmark for artists, musicians, poets, antique dealers, collectors, landscape designers, art historians and lovers of old stones and beautiful gardens. All in all, it is a landmark for enthusiasts and those nostalgic for unique places that tell a story and whose common values allow them to stay here as though they were in their own home. We offer a private tour of the house, exclusively for Patrice Besse clients.
Ghent is the ideal starting point for visiting all the major Flemish cultural cities during the day, thus avoiding having to change places every day. Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, or even Oudenaerde, are only 30 minutes away by train or 80 kilometers maximum. Grand hosts many music festivals. During the ten-day Ghent Festivities in July, the city centre is transformed into one giant festival. The Ghent Jazz Festival and the Festival of Flanders earned Ghent the title of UNESCO Creative City of Music. Gastronomy is no exception to the casual atmosphere here. The logos of great Flemish restaurants are scattered all around, such as Naturell, Jef, Publiek, Oak, Volta, Vrijmoet, Lepelblad, Horzeele. The same is true of pastry chefs and chocolate makers such as Joost Arys. Ghent’s vast architectural heritage will leave art lovers just as satisfied as the foodies, it covers all periods from Gothic through to Art Nouveau. Some beautiful examples include a 19th century opera house, a 16th century cathedral and Jan Van Eyck’s unmissable Agneau Mystique.
The Verhaegen offers a total of three bedrooms and five suites distributed between the main building and the outbuildings around the central garden. The apartment suites, have a kitchen area, a very large living room and a bedroom with bathroom. A double suite is made up of two bedrooms, a living room and a bathroom and can accommodate up to four people. Two suites can be connected to obtain a three-bedroom apartment. Breakfast is served in the dining room adorned with turquoise woodwork and embellished with original canvases painted by Pierre Norbert van Reysschoot.
ref 234212
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