Batenburg Castle

Batenburg, Netherlands, Netherlands

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Batenburg Castle in Batenburg, Netherlands, began as a motte castle around 1080 under the Lords of Batenburg, later passing to the Bronckhorst family through marriage and rebuilt around 1300 with a circular stone defensive wall, moat, corner towers, and a gatehouse using striped brick and marlstone.

Further expanded in the 16th century with protruding half-round towers and residential wings amid regional conflicts, it was largely destroyed by fire in 1794-1795 when French revolutionary troops stuffed it with hay and cut its water supply.

The preserved ruins—featuring the ring wall, partial gatehouse with semicircular towers, and a sacred healing well—now form a scenic landmark on an elevated site overlooking the Maas-Waal region, protected as a rijksmonument.