De Barendonk estate - Fortified town of Grave

A visit to the fortified town of Grave - whose history began around 1140 - is very worthwhile. The lords of Kuyc were the rulers in the Land of Cuijk - and therefore also in Grave - until 1400. They founded the St. Elisabeth Church around 1245 and shortly afterwards the Beguinage. Jan I van van Kuyc founded the St. Catherine Hospital in 1290 and during his reign the St. Elisabeth Church was elevated to a collegiate church. In 1285 he had the city fortified against a threat from the Duchy of Gelre on the other side of the Maas. This laid the foundation for later fortification construction.