The owners

The first lord of Grand Bigard was Almaric de Bigard, who lived there around 1110. Since then, there have been 40 different owners, including several well- known names in Belgian history. Amongst others there is Guillaume Rongman, Lord of Bigard, appointed "Captain of the city of Brussels" in 1422 by Philip the Good . He restored peace to the town and was granted rights to the Brabant Mint, located on the site of the current Place de la Monnaie. Once his task had been fulfilled he returned the keys to the City in 1424. The fourteenth Lord of Bigard, Guillaume Estor, also had a distinguished military career. He held office under Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and was wounded at the siege of Amiens in 1471. He was a councillor of the City of Brussels until the arrival of Emperor Maximilian. On the 6th of January 1548 his grandson Jean Estor and his mother were executed for heresy. Their possessions were confiscated and Emperor Charles V sold the domain of Bigard to Gaspard Schetz, Lord of Grobbendonck, by letters patent dated 14th february 1549, for 17.800 pounds. The Lord of Grobbendonck married Catherine d'Ursel, a descendant of Rongman and Catherine de Bigard. Next came Laurent Longin, Lord of Lembecq and Treasurer of Charles V, then in 1630 Count Clarisse of Antwerp and finally, the first of a long and illustrious line, Count Philippe de Boisschot, Chancellor of Brabant. He died in 1649 and was buried in Notre Dame du Sablon. His great-granddaughter Hélène de Boisschot, married Charles Ferdinand, count of Könisegg-Rothenfels, regent of the Low Countries. On the occasion of their wedding empress Maria-Theresia bestowed the title of Marquess on the owners of Grand Bigard. Charles Ferdinand was twice governor of Belgium , in 1716 and in 1743. He was awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece by Charles of Lorraine in 1744. But it was Count Ferdinand de Boisschot who left most traces of his stewardship of the castle. He enlarged the existing building and added the chapel in 1640. His memorial plaque is still to be seen, dated 1649, together with that of Charles Ferdinand de Königsegg-Rothenfels, count of the Holy Roman Empire, Knight of the Golden Fleece , 1759. Thereafter the property was gradually split up. In 1902, Raymond Pelgrims de Bigard found himself faced with sadly dilapidated buildings. The entrance was blocked by various farmsteads, the moat had been filled in. From these remnants of a glorious past, Raymond Pelgrims de Bigard, after thirty years hard work, managed to restore one of Belgium's most prestigious stately houses. In 2004 the family decided to open the park to the public in April, by organising the largest flower show in Belgium. Since then this event has become a must and helps to maintain this exceptional piece of our heritage.