Tag Archives: gardens

A Day in Montfort

July 8, 2025Hiking, The Netherlands, TravelB&B Botervleig, castle ruins, gardens, Montfortkarenfranza

July 5 – Unlike the other places chosen for a zero mile rest day, there is not a thing to do in Montfort, except to visit the one grocery store. The grocery store does not accept either our VISA or our Mastercard, (only local debit cards), so we are lucky that the town has an ATM.

Unfortunately, we will not be here long enough to enjoy Montfort’s annual Ass Festival

Our hosts Marijke and Ruud run an absolutely top notch B&B

This is our breakfast area in the back garden.

A crabapple tree bursting with fruit. Marijke makes her own jams, preserves and fruit smoothies, which we sampled at breakfast

A pear tree, and there is also a mulberry tree (that the yellow jackets really adored)

How many eggs would you like for breakfast? Fresh eggs are so delicious, not at all like ones we get at the store.

Montfort is known for its castle ruin, but the castle is not open today. Lucky for us, Ruud is a member of the board supervising the restoration of the castle, and he offered to give us a private tour.

The castle was built in the 1200s by Henrik van Gelre, a rich bishop who bought up all the surrounding land. The stones for the castle had to be imported from Belgium – floated down the river then hauled overland.

A recreation of van Gelre’s skull. As you can see by the big chunk missing from the back, he came to a bad end.

“Tis but a scratch.” No it isn’t – your arm is off!”

Walking through the castle basement, Ruud explained that this castle was huge by the standards of the time.

Surrounded by marshy water, an enemy army could only approach from one side

The walls were angled so cannons could shoot without hitting the opposite tower – ingenious!

Artifacts uncovered during the recent dig

Prisoners were dropped through the hole in the ceiling and left in the small, dark space

There is much reconstruction left to go. Unfortunately, at some point the original stones were sold to make other buildings, so new brick is being used.

The gardens are also being restored to original specifications

For supper, I tried the local specialty of Zoerfleis – a cross between my Oma’s sauerbraten and North Carolina barbecue – pulled beef, marinated in vinegar and spices. It was delicious!

Sevilla – the Real Alcázar (or the water gardens of Dorne)

April 9, 2017Spain, TravelGame of Thrones, gardens, Moorish architecture, Real Alcazar, Sevillakarenfranza

Apr 9 – Another beautiful, sunny day. We walked half an hour across town to experience the Real Alcázar, a Moorish palace built during the period when the Muslims ruled Spain in the early 12th century.

The palace is so strikingly gorgeous, it has been used as a set in many films from Lawrence of Arabia to the Game of Thrones. (Pix courtesy of Google images)