Park Gravenrode, Recreational park in Landgraaf and Kerkrade, Netherlands
Park Gravenrode extends across two valleys and combines natural features such as wooded slopes, streams, and agricultural fields with several historical castles and preserved structures. The landscape offers a mix of green spaces and developed areas that together create one continuous recreational region.
Coal mining shaped the area for decades, leaving deep marks on the land and infrastructure. The closure of mines led to major changes as the region shifted toward tourism and nature conservation.
The area long served as home to mining workers and their families, with reminders of that life visible in chapels and preserved dwellings scattered throughout. Visitors now walk the paths and meadows where community life once centered around the earth's resources below.
Entry is free and the area is open year-round, with walking paths through the valleys providing clear routes to follow. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing for the terrain, which is hilly and can be muddy after rain.
The Wilhelminaberg holds one of the longest uncovered staircases in the country, while the artificial lake Cranenweyer offers an unusual spot for water activities in this area. These two features remain little known despite being interesting stops for visitors.
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