Hernen Castle

Hernen Castle is a well-preserved medieval fortress located in the village of Hernen within the municipality of Wijchen, in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. Originating around 1350, the structure initially consisted of a keep and a curtain wall surrounding a bailey, which was later filled with additional buildings to create a small courtyard. Although the original keep collapsed during the 18th century, the castle remains largely in its medieval state because it has never been besieged and has not been permanently inhabited since the 17th century. It holds a unique distinction as the only castle in the Netherlands featuring a covered wall walk, known as a chemins de ronde, which adds to its architectural significance.

The property has a rich history of ownership and preservation. In 1883, it was purchased by the noble Den Tex family to serve as a hunting lodge. Decades later, in April 1940, Baroness Metelerkamp-den Tex donated the estate to the Friends of the Geldersche Kasteelen Foundation, an organization established specifically to acquire and maintain the site. Today, the castle serves a dual purpose where one section is open to the public for tours, while another part houses the A.A. Bredius Foundation. Its atmospheric grounds also gained fame in popular culture when it served as a primary filming location for the 1968 television series Floris, starring Rutger Hauer.

Archaeological investigations have revealed that the current stone castle was preceded by an even older structure. In 2009, researchers discovered remains of a motte-and-bailey castle dating back to the early 12th century just west of the river De Elst. Using ground-penetrating radar and excavation techniques, experts found potsherds and evidence of a dampened moat, confirming that a wooden fortress once stood on the site before the current stone edifice was constructed. This layered history makes Hernen Castle a significant landmark for understanding Dutch military architecture and regional development over nearly a millennium.