Montfoort Castle - Montfoort

In 1163, Bishop Godfried van Rhenen built a mighty castle on an artificial mound to keep the Counts of Holland at bay. He named it Mons Fortis, meaning "Strong Mountain". Today, centuries later, only the imposing outer bailey remains as a reminder of its medieval grandeur.

Viewed from the town, this striking monument, with its impressive gatehouse and two massive towers, still hints at the scale and power of the original castle. Around the fortress, a small border town developed, receiving town rights in 1329. For centuries, it was the scene of fierce clashes between Holland and Utrecht, until retreating troops of Louis XIV largely destroyed the castle during the Dutch Disaster Year of 1672.

After the French period, the surviving castle buildings served many different purposes, including an almshouse for elderly men and a reformatory school for girls, which remained there until 1968. In 1974, the municipality purchased the complex and restored it following archaeological research. Since its redevelopment in the mid-1980s, this remarkable historic site has been home to the charming Restaurant Kasteel Montfoort.