Waterburcht Pietersheim

Om museet

The Waterburcht Pietersheim lies on the Pietersheim estate in Lanaken, about one and a half kilometres from the Meuse. Around 1180 a moated castle replaced an older motte, an artificial mound with a wooden fortification. The castle was surrounded by water and could only be reached via a drawbridge. Remnants of the first building phases are preserved in the gatehouse, a rectangular well and the chapel; around 1425 the whole complex was converted into a castle.

From 1227 the lords of Pietersheim were among the most important vassals of the Count of Loon; later the lordship became part of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. In 1378 the castle was partly demolished by troops of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège and a militia from Tongeren; the traces of fire can still be seen on the remains of the garrison tower and the chapel annex. Through a marriage the lordship passed to the House of Merode in 1410, which had the abandoned complex converted into a castle in High Gothic style. During the siege of Maastricht in 1579 Alexander Farnese used the castle; in 1587 the lord of the castle got it back plundered and badly damaged. It was rebuilt between 1716 and 1721.

The municipality of Lanaken bought the estate in 1971. The castle is a protected monument and has been restored. Today visitors cross a floating footbridge to the inner courtyard, discover the history of knights and noblewomen in the visitor centre, and end their visit in the shop.

Højdepunkter

• Floating footbridge over the moat to the inner courtyard
• Medieval gatehouse and underground chapel
• Visitor centre on the life of knights and noblewomen, with interactive games for children
• Traces of fire from the 1378 attack on the garrison tower
• Shop with knights' helmets, swords and the comic strip about Jan van Pietersheim

Permanent udstilling

• Bezoekerscentrum Waterburcht Pietersheim – The visitor centre tells the history of the castle and its knights and noblewomen, with interactive games for young visitors.

Ejer

Gemeente Lanaken

Entrépriser & rabatter

Der er gratis entré.

Admission to the Waterburcht is free. A guided tour costs €70.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet: ingen oplysninger
• Handicapparkering: ingen oplysninger
• Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

The floating walkway also makes the ruin accessible to less mobile visitors.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Interaktive stationer

In the visitor centre, young visitors can have fun with a range of interactive games. The estate also hosts the activity “Ridders gezocht” (Knights wanted), based on the story of the castle.

Transport & parkering

Address of the information desk: Waterstraat 52, 3620 Lanaken.

Service & spisesteder

• Museumsbutik

The visitor centre has a shop with souvenirs for children and adults.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje

The Waterburcht and some associated rooms can be rented for events; day rates are on the website.

Planlæg dit besøg