A tour over the Utrechtse Heuvelrug

This beautiful route from Veenendaal leads you over the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and through the Amerongse forest. This region is known for its many estates and you will quickly spot the first one: behind a perfectly circular driveway, the turrets of the beautiful Prattenburg country estate rise. Prattenburg is located in the Prattenburgsche Bosch on the northern flank of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, near the transition to the Gelderse Vallei. The castle-like country house is located between the trees of the park-like environment. It was built between 1887 and 1890 in an eclectic style on the site of an earlier house, probably dating from the late 16th or early 17th century. The coach house, with its special stepped gable, is located to the left of the country house.

It is worth stopping here for a stroll. Prattenburg has long been an estate with an agricultural component, but this only came to an end with the new construction from the end of the 19th century. During the construction of the house, designed by EG Wentinck in 1887, the garden and park layout was also changed. In the forest divided into sections until then, the current walking forest with winding paths, the'Engels Werk\\\', was laid out. The family tomb was also built here in 1890. Around 1925 a large, deep winding pond was excavated, surrounded by rhododendrons.

Then drink a cup of coffee in style at Residence Rhenen, hidden in the woods. The à la carte Restaurant de Rotisserie is housed in the former Oranjerie. This contemporary restaurant has a beautiful open kitchen, where the dishes are prepared under the watchful eye of the guests. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11:30 am for lunch (also prepared sandwiches) and dinner. In the summer you can enjoy lunch, dinner or just a good glass of wine outside on the beautiful terrace.

Partridge and corncrake also breed in the western part of the Bovenpolder. Occasionally even the osprey and white-tailed eagle are sighted. So keep binoculars handy!

You continue cycling along the floodplains, to another castle. Ridderhofstad Natewisch was at the first mention Natewisch a fief of Gelre and therefore a Gelderland enclave within Het Sticht. The first liege lord was called Gijsbert van Zuylen. Within Gelderland lending law, inheritance can also be made through the female line and that happened once. The Natewisch was owned by the Van Zuylen van Natewisch family from 1270 to 1689, but David III van Zuylen van Natewisch died in 1663 and inherits his daughter Emerentia Natewisch. In 1689 this daughter Emerentina Geertruid van Zuylen dies. She was married to Joost Taets van Amerongen, and with that the Natewisch comes into the possession of this family. Since then it has always remained in the same family.

The House of Bergestein, also called Berkestein, was also a knight's court town, but now there is little to remember. Before 1566, Bergestein was known as'Huis op den Hoeven\\\'. On the site of the castle there was a farm with a coat of arms of the castle in the facade, but it has been demolished to build a new house. The moat is still visible on the south side. The castle grounds are now an orchard and pasture.

The Duurstede ruin is a romantic spot. The current complex is dominated by the high round Burgundian tower and the square tower. The actual ruin consists of facade remains of the former residential wings on the west and south sides of the castle complex. Further on, above Wijk bij Duurstede, you can see another beautiful spot: the ruins of Groenestein, but here only a gatehouse and part of the moat remain.

What you also encounter here every once in a while are sheepfolds. The entire municipality of Utrechtse Heuvelrug has 31! The buildings recall the history of sheep farming. With their typical shape, wooden facades and thatched roofs, they are characteristic buildings of great cultural-historical value. Most sheepfolds have now been given a new function and are thus preserved for the future. Take a look at the Sheepfold.