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Photo: FrDr, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The archaeological museum, the provincial archeological centre Velzeke (AVE), is at the northeasterly entrance of the Paddestraat, a cobble-stoned street that was part of the old Roman road from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Cologne (and is nowadays an important part of the cycling classic 'Tour of Flanders'). Many archaeological findings from Gallo-Roman culture, including the bronze Venus of Velzeke, are displayed at the museum, which tells the story of the prehistorical and Roman eras in southeast Flanders. The museum is the starting point for the signposted tourist route 'Viae Romanae' which runs along the old Roman road all the way to the Roman site of Bagacum Nerviorum (Bavay) in northern France. Along the cobble-stoned Paddestraat two historical farms ('Schaliënhof' and 'Hof de Moriaan') can be found.
The archaeological museum of Velzeke is a museum located on the Paddestraat in Velzeke-Ruddershove in Zottegem, Belgium. It focuses on prehistorical times and the Gallo-Roman period. The museum opened its doors in 1972.
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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 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 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 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.
Built in 1762, it's one of the finest examples of baroque castle architecture in Belgium. The castle is known for its fine baroque gardens.