# Valkenburg Castle

- **Country:** the Netherlands
- **Coordinates:** 50.861944, 5.830833
- **Location Text:** Valkenburg aan de Geul, Limburg

Valkenburg Castle stands as a unique historical landmark in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Netherlands, distinguished as the only castle in the country built upon a hill. Originally established in 1115 by Lord Gosewijn I, the structure began as a wooden keep before evolving into a stone fortress constructed from local Dutch marlstone. The site holds significant architectural and cultural value, earning a place among the top hundred Dutch cultural monuments. Although the current ruins primarily date from the 14th century, excavations have revealed multiple rebuilding phases throughout history, identifiable by distinct changes in construction materials and colors.

The castle possesses a turbulent history marked by repeated sieges and destructions. After an initial demolition in 1122 by Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, the fortress faced further devastation during the Eighty Years' War when Spanish cannons crippled its defenses. Its final destruction occurred in 1672 during the Franco-Dutch War, when Stadtholder William III ordered the castle slighted to prevent it from falling into French hands. Despite these conflicts, the site retained strategic importance, featuring secret underground passageways discovered in 1937 that allowed knights to move safely during sieges and store food supplies.

Today, the castle exists as a consolidated ruin managed by a dedicated foundation and remains open to the public. A fascinating aspect of the site is its connection to the underlying Velvet Cave, a former marlstone mine that served various purposes over the centuries. This cave functioned as a shelter for villagers during World War II and houses a rare chapel where Mass was historically celebrated. The combination of the hilltop ruins and the extensive underground network offers visitors a glimpse into medieval military engineering and the resilient spirit of the region through centuries of conflict.

![Photo of Valkenburg Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Kasteel_Valkenburg_gezien_vanaf_lourdesgrot.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valkenburg_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)