Boelare Castle is a castle near the village Nederboelare, Geraardsbergen municipality, in the province of East Flanders. It used to be the seat of the feudal domain Land and Barony of Boelare. The oldest recording of the name Boelare dates back to the 11th century, but the domain is probably older.
Some indications point to a first castle in Boelare in the 9th century. However, the structure of the current castle buildings dates back to 1605. In 1983, the buildings were renovated, and are currently housing a home for elderly people.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.