Beaucarne House

Huis Beaucarne

Stroll through the old village square in Ename and discover a stunning mansion with lush gardens and a majestic greenhouse housing a grapevine. The historic house is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in eighteenth century residential culture.

Huis Beaucarne, Pieter van Reysschoot

Beaucarne House

The Beaucarne family purchased the house in 1748 and has occupied it for many generations. Much of the interior has been preserved as a result. The historic home, gardens and greenhouse with grapevine veil some rather wonderful stories in which Jean-Baptiste Beaucarne was a key player. As well as being a notary, he was also a well-known orchid and plant grower. In 1861 he managed to get a plant, brought from Mexico, to bloom in Belgium. It was officially named Beaucarnea Recurvata. He also won, and proudly took home, a silver trophy at the Most Beautiful Orchid contest in Bergen. The historical values of the site are intrinsically linked to the family that lived there. The house has been a listed monument since 1976.

Wall paintings after Pieter Norbertus van Reysschoot (1738-1795)

The art historian Marie Fredericq-Lilar (1934-2022), who occupied the house between 1954 and 2022, was an authority on life in the eighteenth century and wrote a dissertation on the van Reysschoot brothers. Her fascination led her to a golden opportunity. In 1970 she purchased canvases that were part of the interior of a mansion in Ghent. The paintings appeared to be the work of Pieter Norbertus van Reysschoot, but the signature so typical of the artist was missing. Nevertheless, Marie-Fredericq-Lilar decided to display them in the ‘Music Salon’ of the House of Beaucarne. The interior of the eighteenth century bourgeois salon became the backdrop for vividly painted landscapes that draw us into nature.

Portret door Léon de Smet
Portret door Léon de Smet
Portret door Léon de Smet

Three portraits by Léon de Smet

The expressionist Léon de Smet was part of the Latem School at the beginning of the 20th century. Léon de Smet was the brother of the artist Gustave de Smet. Commissioned by Baron Louis Fredericq (1892-1981), he painted the portrait of the latter’s uncle Louis Beaucarne (1875-1945) after his death. Louis Beaucarne was mayor of Ename and lived in the historic house until 1945. After his death his nephew, Louis Fredericq, inherited the property. Léon de Smet used Louis Beaucarne’s funeral card to finalize the portrait. Louis Fredericq also commissioned a portrait of himself and his wife Thérèse Varlez (1898-1991).

Practical information

Address

Beaucarnestraat 9
9700 Ename
Belgium
View directions

Opening hours

  • Open every Sunday at 10.00, 14.00 and 16.00 hrs, subject to reservation.

Accessibility

  • Easy access for people with disabilities.

Good to know

  • Admission: €25.00 standard rate

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