Amerongen, kasteeltuin

This blog isn't called "highlights of the Netherlands" for nothing. One of our country's highlights, especially in summer, is Kasteel Amerongen with its beautiful gardens.

 

The history of this castle goes way back to 1286 AD, although in its early years it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The predecessor of the current castle first appeared on a map in 1597 which coincidentally is also the year in which the castle was acknowledged as a 'Ridderhofstad' or 'knight manor'. Over the centuries the ownership of the house went from father to son and in 1641 it ended up in the possession of Godard Adriaan van Reede, who together with his wife Margaretha Turnor embellished the manor lavishly.

 

In 1673 after Godard and his wife had wisely fled the scene, French occupant troops burned down the castle.

As early as 1674 Margaretha ordered a new house to be build on the exact same spot. In fact, it has been built on the remaining foundations which were extended at the time too. That new house, or better yet that castle, still stands today.

 

Currently the building is undergoing major restoration work. With Leitmotiv "due to restoration we're open", the castle and grounds are open to the public. That is to say, the gardens are individually accessible (after paying an entrance fee of € 2.50), but the castle can only be toured by groups (with a minimum of 6 people) with a guide, €7.50 pp. If you are willing to pay the full minimum amount of 45 euros you can enjoy a guided tour with as few people as you like. The tour will give you lots of historical information, tales about the former occupants and backstage access to the ateliers where the restoration of paintings, furniture and so on is taking place.

 

The grounds are divided in several types of gardens and can boast about four centuries of history. There is the formal (neo baroque) entrance garden, the rosary, the park (with a magnificent over 300 year old oak), the L-parterre (a bit of Rococo), a fruit garden and a flower garden just for starters.

You could visit the graves of former owner's pets, among which is one for Uranus, the favorite horse of the Lady of the manor. There also are 19^th century greenhouses, a berceau (an intertwined birch tree covered path) and the Iris garden, a deepened lawn for playing tennis or croquet.

 

To allow the garden some rest, there is a winter closing period from November to March. April 1 the garden reopens for the public to enjoy its splendor, al the way through to October. Opening hours are: April, September and October; Tuesday - Friday 11.00h - 16.30h, Saturday and Sunday 13.00h - 16.30h. During the height of summer: May - August opening hours on weekdays start half an hour earlier and on weekends a full hour earlier.

 

The castle sits in Amerongen which is a lovely quaint little village in the province Utrecht. The village and surrounding woodlands are well worth a visit in their own right, but to miss the castle while you are in Amerongen is almost a mortal sin.