Kasteel Geerestein, Medieval castle in Woudenberg, Netherlands
Kasteel Geerestein is a castle with a U-shaped structure, white plastered walls, and neoclassical design set within a landscaped estate featuring a grand canal. The entire property encompasses ten national monuments spread across formal garden sections and open landscape areas.
The castle was built between 1394 and 1402 by Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt and underwent major changes in 1834 under Hendrik Daniel Hooft's direction. These transformations show how the place evolved from medieval origins to a neoclassical estate.
The grounds blend French formal gardens with straight oak avenues alongside English-style landscapes with winding paths. The way these two garden traditions sit side by side shapes how the entire property feels when you walk through it.
The castle now houses office space for an architecture firm and bicycle manufacturer, keeping it closed to regular public access. The surrounding grounds may be viewable at certain times with advance notice or during special events.
The property includes a children's house built in Swiss chalet style between 1835 and 1850, complete with a small stable featuring a Greek temple front. This unusual outbuilding reveals the playful architectural experiments of the Victorian era.
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