Slot Loevestein (tollens)

Water is still playing a big part in the recent history of Loevestein. In February of the year 2000 the presentation of the plans for preventing a flood in the future was in Loevestein. Minister of state De Vries held a pleading for the construction of a green river. This dead dry river would be constructed in the land of Heusden and Altena. The publishing of the plans started a lot of commotion. For the first time since centuries it seemed to be that the threat was not from the sea but from the rivers out of Belgium and Germany. This was very clear during the flood of 1903 and 1995. Around the year 2015 there will be more certainty whether the green river will have to be dug or not.

For more information about the green river click here. 

For handicrafts the daylight was necessary (artificial light did not yet exist). In the castle many niches, like the one in the picture, can be found. On both sides benches were placed where the ladies could sit together to talk and do their handicrafts. But the castle did not only have cozy spaces, it also has a real death cell. Whoever was to be killed was put away in a cell in the attic of the castle to spend his last night.

You can also visit Loevestein ; call for more information:031- 0183 -441375

 

Brabant fights against water

Where Maas and Waal come together near Gorkum, on the left edge of the river with its mirror image in a breadth stream, stands a castle from many centuries ago.    

   

Welcome on Slot Loevestein

This castle was build several centuries ago and today is part of the Vestingdriehoek. The castle has always played a big part in the history of Gorinchem and Woudrichem. Slot Loevestein is build on a spit of land where the two rivers of the Maas and the Waal come together. The history of this castle goes back to the 12th century. The building of the castle starts in the year 1300 [it is not exactly known when] at the orders of Dirk Loef van Horne. There are many stories about the origin of the name of Slot Loevestein but it might just be a reduction of the name Loef.

This is what you see when you go through the gate. A street with on both sides small houses. In those houses soldiers and local people lived centuries ago. Today some are public places where you can buy tickets and a permanent exposition on the castle is shown. If you walk out of the lane and go to the right you will see the old castle of Loevestein ... but  don't walk,  just take your mouse to the chestnut in the middle of the picture.

This is... LOEVESTEIN over the bridge and the moat you will come in the heart of the castle; the old inner court. The castle is dominated by the two big towers. The invest of the caste was build at the end of the 16th century. It was build in order for the castle to be able to offer a better defense against enemies and against the water. In 1953 officially the last soldiers left the castle and since then the castle is owned by Department of Education and Culture of the Dutch government.

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