Nederland - Aarle Rixtel, Kasteel Croy

The oldest parts of ‘Kasteel Croy’ (Croy Castle) most probably are dating back to the middle of the 15th century. In 1477 Jacob van Croy, member of the noble Burgundian family De Croy, bought a ‘slotje’ (= little castle) with a farmhouse. However ‘Van Croy’ was only seventeen years owner of the "slotje", when he sold it to Cornelis I van Bergen, who probably built the castle (PiP 1) and gatehouse (PiP 2) in its final size.

Several noble families inhabited the imposing castle; the last one was family was the Van der Brugghen family. The last inhabitant was Freule (Lady) Constance van der Brugghen. She died in 1873 and left the building to the municipality of Stiphout with the obligation to use it for the help of poor elderly people. This came to an end in 1977, when the castle was disapproved for housing (elderly) people.

After a fully restoration of the interior (1990), the castle nowadays houses a number of companies. The gatehouse is used as a bed & breakfast.