Zottegem

The origins of this castle go back to the 11th century. In the 16th century it became one of the luxurious residences of Lamoral, Count of Egmont. The 'Knight's Room' (Ridderzaal) on the east side still has a Renaissance bay window dating from that period. The castle now houses the library and has a neorenaissance facade dating from 1867. Egmont castle is surrounded by Egmont park, in which archaeological remains of the former castle walls, moats and drawbridge can be seen. One of the two statues of Lamoral Count of Egmont stands in front of the castle.

The Zottegem town hall on the market square is one of the most characteristic buildings of the town. It dates back to the medieval ages but has been damaged and restored multiple times since; the present town hall was built in 1862. In the town hall one can visit the Egmont Museum (Egmontkamer) which showcases historical objects about this 16th-century nobleman who was beheaded by order of the Spanish king Philip II on the Grand-Place in Brussels in 1568. In the adjacent hall one can admire two historical paintings related to Egmont: 'Last Honours to Counts Egmont and Horne' by Louis Gallait (1882) and 'The Castle of Egmond aan den Hoef' (1570) by Gilles De Saen. A shrine containing Egmont's crushed vertebral cervica is also on display. The town hall also houses the tourist office and the centre for regional history. The 18th-century House of "The Catholic Circle" shows floral ornaments in rococo style.

The burial place of Lamoral, Count of Egmont and his wife Sabina, Duchess of Bavaria was rediscovered in 1804 underneath the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. The crypt contains the mortal remains of Egmont and his wife; three heart-shaped leaden boxes contain the hearts of Egmont and two of his sons. The crypt is covered by a glass dome; a multimedia display tells the story of Egmont and Zottegem in the 16th century. The clocktower from 1750 has a carillon with 49 bells.

The statue of Lamoral, Count of Egmont (made by sculptor Calloigne) was erected in 1862 in the middle of the market square in honour of the 16th-century statesman. The present-day bronze statue is a copy of the original one and was erected in 1968; the original cast-iron statue was placed in Egmont's park in front of Egmont's castle.

The building of the former 'Sanitary Underwear Company' was built in 1909 as one of the first concrete buildings in continental Europe. The renovated building now houses the city's administrative centre and is a fine example of industrial archaeology. The 'Steam Engine museum' displays the Lancashire steam engines that were used in the former factory.

In the city centre there are still some buildings that clearly show Art nouveau influences such as stained glass windows and tiles displaying floral motifs (Stationsstraat: numbers 20 (Schildershuis), 45 (Huis van De Sande), 48, 50 (Pâtisserie De La Gare)/ Hoogstraat: 18 (Art deco window 'Little Red Riding Hood'), 39 (floral tiles) / Heldenlaan: 7 (Leon De Smet-Van De Sijpe), 18 (Huis Ferdinand)/ Laurens De Metsstraat: 45, 47, 49, 51/ Kapellestraat: 37/ Léonce Roelsstraat: 11). Some Art deco villas can be seen in and around the city centre (Grotenbergestraat (villas such as Villa Cousy), Bruggenhoek (Villa Cantaert and the villa at Bruggenhoek 44), Zuidstraat).

This building was erected in 1933. The striking bell-shaped dome on top of the building served as a water reservoir for the brewery. The building has been renovated and turned into lofts and apartments.

The Heroes' monument, by sculptor Vits, was erected in 1921 in honour of the Zottegem victims of the First World War.