Engelenburg, former castle in Herwijnen, Netherlands
Engelenburg is a castle site located near the Waal River in Herwijnen, consisting of medieval fortifications and residential structures. The site is marked by visible moats that outline the former U-shaped layout, with brick foundations and stone pathways detected beneath the ground through modern survey techniques.
The castle was founded around 1424 by Johan van Herwijnen Johanszoon and developed from a simple defensive tower into a larger U-shaped complex. It survived the French siege of 1672 but was torn down in 1817 after the owner abandoned it to focus on the nearby estate of Frissestein.
The name Engelenburg reflects its role as a stronghold for the van Herwijnen family, who controlled the land and river trade routes in this region. The visible moat pattern shows how medieval residents structured their defensive space to protect against raids and maintain control over the Waal valley.
The site is accessible to visitors, with the moats clearly visible and easy to spot as you walk the grounds. It is best to explore the area from the marked paths to protect the underground archaeological remains beneath the surface.
The castle was one of the few structures in the region to survive the violent upheaval of 1672 when French forces ravaged the area. This survival makes it a rare testament to the military pressures that shaped the Waal valley during one of the Netherlands most turbulent periods.
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