Melantrys’ Page

Like any good castle the Kasteel Doorwerth of course has a moat.

moat, bridge and castle

The most important picture I took, I think:

stick beside the moat

moat, seen through an arch

water lilies

ducks, in and out of focus

some plants, as seen from a bridge

Anyone got any idea what those baskets are for?

determined plant, clinging to the wall of the moat

Um, ugh, ok….

Push to call…. the Vikings?!?!? Um, better not….

strange device at one of the doors

could be so authentic… except for the plastic….

The day after seeing Disturbed we did not lazily recuperate but drove to a castle that is not very far from Kik’s place: Kasteel Doorwerth.

Dating back to the 13th century (and originally named Kasteel Dorenweerd until around 1800) the castle has been burned and bombed (ahem…) to pieces a few times and has been through the hands of various owners, including German ones through the 17th and 18 century.

These days you can come and gape at the castle and the surrounding landscape, visit a museum situated inside or eat at a restaurant there.
We settled for gaping and snapping photos.

turrets, as seen over outer wall

a view from the inside court

view from behind

the castle gardens

gate to nowhere

Growing inside the the court is a somewhat tattered (*cough, cough*) black locust tree, or false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), which is said to be the oldest one in the Netherlands.
Considering that it was apparently planted in the first half of the 17th century, only shortly after the North American tree was introduced to Europe by the Frenchman J. Robin in 1601, this sounds very likely indeed.

close-up 1

close-up 2

close-up 3

false acacia in all its splendor