9 Aug Yesterday (Wednesday) we cycled about 3kms to Woudrichem (ponounced Wow-dri-kem). This is a star fort town that was strategically important during dutch history as it was where the Wall River and the Afgedamde Maas River meet to become the Boven Merwede. We bought the english self-guided tour and had a nice look around the town. The town was also part of the Dutch Water Line which was a defensive strategy to flood parts of the Netherlands to stop invaders. With some defensive forts to protect higher ground and important locations - in this case Gorinchem. There were small statues around town depicting people from it's history. After lunch we caught the small ferry to Slot Loevestein which is just on the other side of the Afgedamde Maas. This was a castle rather than a town, but was also strategically important and part of the Dutch Water Line. It is now a museum and they had some very good explanations of the history of the castle and it's place in dutch history. At one time it held political prisoners and their wives were allowed to stay with them. One of the prisoners escaped in a book box, and it seemed that his wife was allowed to go free and join him. I would have thought she would become a hostage. Inside the castle was very dark, but there were some good views from some of the higher windows, with the Waal River in the background. After our visit to the slot we caught the ferry back to Woudrichem and cycled home. Another interesting day.
1 Comment
Sue veal
11/8/2017 09:01:26 pm
Looks like two great places to visit. X
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