Landgoed de Barendonk - Fortified town of Grave

A visit to the fortified town of Grave - whose history started around 1140 - is very worthwhile. Until 1400 the lords of Kuyc were the rulers in the Land van Cuijk - and thus also in Grave. They founded the St. Elisabeth Church around 1245 in the Beguinage shortly afterwards. Jan I van van Kuyc founded the St.Catharinagasthuis in 1290 and during his reign the St.Elisabethkerk was elevated to a collegiate church. In 1285 he had the city fortified because of the threat from the Duchy of Gelre on the other side of the Meuse. This laid the foundation for later fortifications.