Valkenburg Castle

Valkenburg Castle is a ruined medieval hill castle overlooking the town of Valkenburg aan de Geul in Limburg, the Netherlands. Originating in the 12th century, the castle occupied a limestone ridge and was an important local stronghold in the medieval period.

Today the site consists of ruined masonry, fragmentary tower and wall sections on the hill and an associated network of man-made underground passages cut into the limestone. The ruins and casemates are interpreted for visitors and are a central tourist attraction for the town.

The castle stands above Valkenburg aan de Geul in southern Limburg, close to regional road links and within easy reach of Maastricht and other regional centres.

• Age and type: Built in the 12th century, it is the best known example of a hill castle in the Netherlands and sits on a strategic limestone spur above town.
• Visitor access: The surface ruins are paired with a system of underground passages carved into the rock that are open for guided visits and provide access to views under the hill.

What to See #

• Castle ruins: Ruined castle keep and curtain wall fragments on the limestone hill above Valkenburg aan de Geul; visible remains date to medieval periods and are the main surface attraction.
• Underground passages (casemates): A network of underground passages and caverns carved into the local limestone that were used historically for shelter and later opened for guided tours and displays.