Hernen Castle

Dutch castle

The castle of Hernen is situated about 15 km west of Nijmegen, a city in the southern part of Gelderland, The Netherlands.
Earls of Hernen are known in about 1250, but there is no proof of he castle by then. From 1350 on the castle stands at a small sand bank surrounded by low land. The beginnings of the castle was the keep. Against the keep the baily was situated surrounded by a wall. It took some centuries in which various buildings were built up against the four walls. Ultimately the buildings enclosed a small court yard.

Middle ages

The originally crenellated parapet on the top storey of the castle was covered over after the middle ages. Hernen is the only castle in the Netherlands with such a special construction. The castle was never besieged or demolished so the history of the castle can be read off from the various stones used for the buildings.
Hernen was in the possession of many families. In the 17th century it came in the hands of a southern Dutch family. They never lived in Hernen. Therefore the condition of the castle was getting worse and worse. In the 18th century, the big keep collapsed during a storm and was never rebuild. The rest of the castle was restored a little.

Interesting medieval castle

In the middle of this century the castle became the first possession of the Society 'Vrienden van de Gelderssche Kasteelen' (Friends of the castles of Gelderland). The castle was totally restored. It is an interesting example of a small medieval Dutch castle.
The castle can be visited almost every day.

More information

Castles Main Page
Bergh Castle
Hillenraad Castle
Moermond Castle
Rechteren Castle

Met deze cd-rom kunt u vele uren genieten van de rijkdom van de Nederlandse geschiedenis en in het bijzonder van de prachtige kastelen en huizen die Nederland rijk is.

Deze cd-rom is een aanrader voor de liefhebber van Nederlandse kastelen.
Nederlandse kastelen