Ammersoyen Castle was built around 1350 near the Maas river by the Van Herlaer family. It has a rectangular almost square layout of four wings centered around a little courtyard with heavy round towers at its four corners. It shows similarity to other square castles like Helmond Castle, Muiden Castle and the partially remaining Radboud Castle. Ammersoyen Castle is connected to the separate bailey by a bridge and the entire site is moated.

In 1386 already the castle was taken by force by Willem van Gulik, the Duke of Gelre. The Dukes of Gelre remained owners of the castle for 25 years. In 1412 Duke Reinald V granted the castle to his bastard son; Willem van Wachtendonk, who in 1424 sold the castle to Johan van Broekhuizen, Lord of Waardenburg.

In 1496 the Van Arkel family married into ownership of the castle. This family lived in the castle until 1694.

More info: www.castles.nl

Een stukje Engelse tekst dat ik vond op een Duitse website over Wachtendonk. Hier hebben ze het over de resten van Kasteel Wachtendonk. Binnenkort gaan we daar eens een kijkje nemen.

Wachtendonk

History, culture, sports and recreation make up the impressive package of leisure time activities available in Wachtendonk and in the beautiful landscape of its surrounding area. Taking a walk through the town center, one inevitably passes “Haus Püllen”, which dates back to the year 1634 and which is one of the town’s oldest architectural monuments. The nunnery, founded in 1430, today houses a presbytery and the library of the Catholic church. Right opposite, the parish church of St. Michael bids visitors to enter. A trip to the ruins of Castle Wachten-donk is always worthwhile.

The national park “Maas-Schwalm-Nette” represents a well-working example of international co-operation in conservation and tourism. During the summer, the lakes are the place to be for all fans of water sports, where swimming and water skiing in the “Blue Lagoon” provide nice opportunities for refreshment. Hikers and bikers will find enough space in every season to discover the landscape of the Lower Rhine Area. The local gastronomy offers all kinds of delicacies for every palate and purse, for instance in the 1719 “Flachshaus” (Flax House).Ein gelungenes Beispiel internationaler Zusammenarbeit auf dem Gebiet Naturschutz und Touristik ist der Naturpark Maas-Schwalm-Nette. Im Sommer gelten die Naturbadeseen als Mekka der Wassersportler. Schwimmen, aber auch Wasserski verschaffen in der "blauen Lagune" die nötige Abkühlung. Zu jeder Jahreszeit finden Wanderer und Radfahrer ausreichend Platz, um die niederrheinische Landschaft zu erkunden. Und nach einer anstrengenden Tour bietet die Gastronomie allerlei Leckereien für jeden Geschmack und Geldbeutel. Zum Beispiel im Flachshaus aus dem Jahr 1719.

History:

Wachtendonk, the southmost municipality of the city of Cleve, has been able to retain the medieval structures of the castle area. The typical appearance of an 18th-century country town is still ubiquitous. In the 12th century, the rulers of Wachten-donk built their castle on a flood-protected hill in the marshy lowlands between the rivers Nette and Niers. As early as 1354, Wachtendonk had municipal laws and was provided with a brewery, a beer cellar, a public kitchen and a bakery.

Subsequently, sovereignty, destruction and changing ownership left their marks on the town. During the 15th century the rule switched from the Dukes of Geldern and Cleve and back, until the city fell to Emperor Charles V. There is a copper-plate print of 1560 showing the road network from a bird’s eye view. Thereafter, religious conflicts and two devastating fires hit the city hard. In 1713, Wachten-donk fell to Prussia and under Napoleonic rule temporarily lost its municipal laws.