Middachten Castle (Dutch: Kasteel Middachten) is a monumental manor house, located on the Middachten estate, De Steeg, Netherlands
Middachten Castle (Dutch: Kasteel Middachten) is a monumental manor house, located on the Middachten estate, De Steeg, Netherlands. The current building dates from 1693-1698. The castle is a rijksmonument since October 11, 2004, and is part of the Top 100 Dutch heritage sites.
History
The first mention of a castle on this location dates from 1190, owned by Jacobus de Mithdac. Early in the 14th century Everardus van Steenre transferred its ownership to Reinald, count of Gelre. Everardus then got the castle back as a loan in 1357. The castle would remain with this family until 1625. During this time the castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1673 Stadtholder William III conquered the city of Bonn, making the occupying French troops retreat, who destroyed the castle. Godard van Reede and his spouse Ursula van Raesfelt then had the castle rebuilt, based on the example of Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn. It was designed by Jacobus Roman (1640-1716) and Steven Vennecool (1657-1719).
After the castle was rebuilt in 1698 a garden was built, based on the garden in Versailles in the period 1700-1725. In the late 18th century British style gardens became fashion, and the gardens were redone in this style. In 1900 count and countessa Bentinck-Van Heeckeren of Wassenaer had the gardens partially rebuilt in the original style by Hugo Poortman (a student of French garden artist Édouard André).
Freehold property
The manor house was first mentioned as: freehold property of Jacobus de Mithdac in the year 1190. Middachten House was heavily fortified in the course of the Middle Ages with thick walls to protect its occupants. The whole was extended to become a moated main fortress with forecourt. Nevertheless, the defences were not always equally effective, as the castle was attacked and plundered on several occasions.
Feudal estate
At the beginning of the 14th century, Everardus van Middachten transferred his estate to Count Reinoud I of Gelre, so that he could rely on the count's protection. In exchange, Everardus was offered the estate on loan. This meant that Everardus would provide the count with military and financial support. Middachten has never been sold to this day. It has been passed down through the male or female line and has remained in the hands of the same family.
Palace
The house and its gardens only acquired their present palatial form in the late 17th century. The inner courtyard of the medieval stronghold was converted into a hall with a grand stairway. The whole was covered by a richly decorated dome. The forecourt became a garden, later flanked by two residential buildings. The castle has not changed significantly since this conversion.
Estate
Besides the castle with its forecourt and gardens, the estate also includes woodland and several farms. Like their forefathers, the farmers pay rent to the lord of the castle (a lady these days). A steward administers the entire estate. All the buildings on the estate are easy to recognise from the red and white painted shutters - the colours of the House of Middachten coat of arms.
The castle used to have an extensive estate. However these are no longer owned by the owners of the castle. Buildings that used to belong to the castle estate can be recognized by the red and white coloring, for example the Post office in De Steeg.
https://excitinghistory.com/de-middeleeuwen/de-steeg-huis-middachten
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middachten_Castle
Free
6.00 EUR
0 - 12 years: free
- Walking and cycling trails
- Informative tables
info@middachten.nl
- The Castle is open on certain days
- Castle Gardens
- Guided tours
- The building is closed for visitors, only gardens can be seen