Grave, town in Land van Cuijk, the Netherlands
Grave is a fortified town on the Maas river in the Land van Cuijk region of the Netherlands. The historic center is compact, with cobbled streets, old town gates, and buildings from different periods standing side by side.
Grave received town rights in 1233 and grew into an important trading and military post along the Maas. Over the centuries it was besieged several times, and its defenses were expanded after each major conflict.
The Smartlappen Festival takes place in Grave each year, drawing visitors who come to hear traditional Dutch folk songs performed live. The event is deeply rooted in local life and gives the town a living connection to a popular singing tradition.
The town center is easy to walk through, and the riverbank offers open views over the Maas. The Stadsmuseum is located inside the old Hampoort gate and is a good starting point for understanding the town's defensive past.
The John S. Thompson Bridge is named after an American soldier who led the liberation of the town in September 1944. The casemates built before World War II are now open to visitors and show what the town's defensive network looked like from the inside.
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