De Bilt, Bunnik and Soesterberg

Zeist was first mentioned in a charter from 838. The core of the settlement at that time was located around the current 1st and 2nd Dorpsstraat, where a church was built at the end of the twelfth century. The current church was built in the nineteenth century, but still contains the original tower of the old church. The development of Zeist was drastically influenced by the construction of Slot Zeist in 1685. Many exhibitions of modern artists were held in the beautiful castle. Zeist also has a few other beautiful monuments, such as Huis Ter Wege and Kasteel Lovdalla. Around Zeist and Soesterberg you will find beautiful nature reserves. Groot Heidestein is characterized by extensive coniferous and mixed forests with alternating heathlands, drifting sands and arable lands, but Boswachterij Dorst is also a wonderful place to cycle. Birds use the heath remnants and deciduous forests as breeding grounds; sparrowhawks, hobby and various woodpecker species and various butterflies have found their way to the area. Brown Hairstreak, Heath Blue, Speckled Skipper, Green-legged Fritillary and the Small Kingfisher Butterfly are no exceptions in the healthy nature of this area. Before you start your bike ride or when you return, you can have your bike serviced at Profile Rene. As a true cycling enthusiast, you naturally want your bike to remain in excellent condition and the branch of the bicycle specialist is located near the car park. So take the opportunity to get your bike in tip-top condition again. With the bicycle discount card you will receive a 10 euro discount. The first two sights you will see during your tour are Fort Rhynauwen and a castle of the same name. The fort is part of the New Dutch Waterline and the Defence Line of Utrecht. It was built in a strategic location and defended the surrounding area and the land behind it. The total defence line runs from Muiden to the Biesbosch and covers 85 kilometres. Not only did forts help to guard the border line, but water was also used as an effective means to put a spanner in the works of enemies. Since 2005, the New Dutch Waterline has been designated as a national landscape, four years later the entire line was given the status of National Monument. Since 2010, the defense line has been a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List. And rightly so, because the New Dutch Waterline is a beautiful nature reserve with forts, shelters for birds and protected animal species and water management feats that are visible and hidden in the landscape. Rhynauwen Castle is located on the right bank of the Rhine, just outside the town of Bunnik. The house was first mentioned in the thirteenth century, but the current castle dates from the eighteenth century. The house was built on the site where its predecessor stood. The building is owned by the municipality of Utrecht and in 2013 a youth hostel was established in the castle. There are even more beautiful sights within a radius of one kilometer. Oud-Amelisweerd Castle near Bunnik, for example, was first mentioned in the thirteenth century. The house served as a residence and was destroyed by French troops in 1672. In 1770, the country house was rebuilt as a summer house for the then owner. The estate then served as a residence for another 2 centuries, after which it was sold to the municipality of Utrecht in 1951. The castle and estate will be opened in the autumn of 2013. The Roman altar has an inscription that reads:"For the mother goddesses of Noricum, Anneus Maximus, soldier of the First Legion Minervia, has fulfilled his vow, gladly and with reason.\\\" This inscription suggests that this is a memorial altar for the soldier Anneus, who was stationed in Bonn from the end of the first century. Nieuw Amelisweerd is also a castle near Bunnik. The castle was first mentioned in 1350 and just like Oud-Amelisweerd, this house was also badly damaged in 1672. In 1682, the medieval house was demolished and the current country house was built in the same year. In 1971, a group of squatters moved into the country house and on their initiative, the house was restored in 1984. Today, the house has 17 apartments.