WAARDENBURG CASTLE, THE NETHERLANDS

Waardenburg Castle nowadays is a remnant of a castle with a polygonal shape dating back to around 1283. The castle was preceded by a wooden castle built in 1265. It was then known as Hiern Castle, named after the hill is was built on. This wooden castle was founded by a Rudolf Cock. His ancestors owned the castle until 1401, which was then known as Weerdenbergh Castle. This name translates as "washland hill". During the Eighty Years War, in the 16th century, the castle was taken by surprise and pillaged. The castle was heavily damaged in the process; only its heavy walls and the shells of the towers survived.

The castle remained a ruin until 1627 when a Johan Vijgh gained ownership and started partially rebuilding the castle. During this rebuilding the bailey and the southwing, in which the entrance gate was situated, were completely demolished. In the following centuries the castle was successively owned by the Aylva and Van Pallandt families. Even in 1895 the eastern wing of the castle was enlarged and fitted with a little stairtower. Today the castle lies separated from the river Waal by a dike. But in earlier centuries the river flowed by its walls. Waardenburg Castle is now owned by the "Friends of the Castles of Gelderland"-foundation.

Faust’s home, castle Waardenburg

Faust is famous because of the story by Goethe, based on a German legend. However, few know that this character really existed. Johann Georg Faust was born in Germany around 1480. It was said that he preyed on his young male students and that he practised magic and alchemy.

His habits and different way of thinking resulted in the story that he had sold his soul for idle pleasure. The devil would be his servant for seven years and help him with his experiments. He is thought to have died in an explosion, caused by his own experiments. Some decided that this was the work of the devil, who had come to collect his soul.

Where Faust died is unclear, but in Dutch stories, it was castle Waardenburg where he met his fate. At the top of the tower is a window with ancient bloodstains on the sides of the frame. It is said that this is where the devil dragged Faust away, and the place still feels like something remained to lurk there forever.

Whether Faust really lived in Waardenburg is not clear, but it is known that he spent some time in the Netherlands, and a very old Leeuwarden tale that the castle’s lord sold his soul to the devil existed long before the Faust legend became popular.

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