Herzogenrath

Rode Castle towers over the town of Herzogenrath from its hilltop location – its sturdy tower identifies it from afar as a fortified medieval structure that one would not initially associate with the Roman roads. The significance of the exhibition venue for the VIA project stems from the aspect of trade and long-distance roads from a later perspective. The hilltop fortress of Burg Rode served to secure a new branch of the old Roman route that connected Cologne with the important trading centres in Flanders and Brabant. At Herzogenrath, the road crossed the small river Wurm and was easier to defend than the original route via Rimburg due to the low groundwater level, several streams and marshy terrain. The solid customs revenues at this crossing point and certainly also the fertile farmland in the surrounding area made the location financially attractive for the Counts of Saffenberg, who founded the customs castle before 1104.

Another important monument in the historical fabric is Rolduc Abbey, which was founded as a small hermitage by Ailbertus of Antoing in the early 12th century. Over the following centuries, the abbey acquired enormous wealth through land ownership, financial donations and the operation of mills and coal mining, which is still reflected today in the impressive abbey church and the outbuildings erected at various times.

Customs castle, administrative headquarters, court, military hospital and town hall – Rode Castle has a multifaceted past. The new exhibition in the atmospheric vaulted rooms of the castle invites visitors on a short journey through the multifaceted history of the castle and the land of Rode. You will immerse yourself in the history of the construction and use of Rode Castle, the gruesome era of the Bockreiter"“, a band of robbers from the 18th century, and the inquisition-like justice of the time, and take a look at the Dutch neighbours in the border region opposite the castle, monastery and former abbey mill, now known as the Baalsbrugger Mill. The development of the outdoor area allows you to look at the town and the region from striking vantage points, as if through a window in time.

Address
Burgstraße 5 / 52134 Herzogenrath
Internet

Opening hours
The exhibition is open during the opening hours of the castle café from April to October, Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please contact the café staff. Outside these opening hours, visits for groups are possible by appointment (telephone 02406 / 5230).

Location and directions
The town of Herzogenrath offers a digital map to help you plan your journey.