Walking through historic Grave

Grave is a beautiful fortified town on the Maas. You can see numerous sights, such as churches and monumental buildings. This route also takes you to Bronkhorst Castle.

Monastery castle Bronkhorst
The former Bronkhorst Castle (not to be confused with its namesake in Gelderland) is located just outside Grave. The originally fifteenth-century castle was transferred to a sister order in 1858. They had the castle largely demolished to build a monastery. Parts of the original masonry were incorporated into the monastic buildings. After World War II, the monastery slowly emptied. Today, apartments are located in the building.

Historic Grave
However small Grave may be, the fortified town has about 130 national monuments. From the Elftweg you can see the Hampoort from 1688 on the edge of the old core. This was still part of the fortifications demolished in 1876. On the Hoofdwagt you will find the old town hall from 1615 and the thirteenth-century Sint-Elisabeth Church. Café de Gouden Leeuw dates from the year 1750 and used to serve as a hotel. Nowadays you can go to this cozy café for a snack and a drink.

Too bad for Cuyck
Herman van Cuijk was a Dutch nobleman who lived in the twelfth century. After his castle in Cuijck was destroyed, he was banished. About 1138 he returned to build a new castle. Not in Cuijck itself, but in present-day Grave, further along the Maas. The town grew up around this castle. In 1233 Grave received city rights. According to legend, Grave bought these city rights from... Cuijk, the former location of the lords of Cuijk who resided in Grave at that time. There is no actual evidence for this story. Nevertheless, Grave is now a city and Cuijk is often referred to as'former city\\\'.

From Café De Gouden Leeuw you can also cycle route 114716 to admire windmills on the Maas.