Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Defense Line "The Landgrave"

Defense Line "The Landgrave"

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Defense Line "The Landgrave"

Recommended by 70 hikers out of 80

Save

Location: Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hiking Routes to Defense Line "The Landgrave"

3.5

(2)

hikers

1. The Landgraaf – The Landgraaf loop from Kakert

4.70km

01:14

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

hikers

2. The Landgraaf – The Landgraaf loop from Maria Christinawijk

7.72km

02:02

60m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

hikers

3. Heerlen Station – Street art mural by Super A loop from Heerlen

13.5km

03:31

90m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

Tips

RemcoM

April 5, 2021

The municipality of Landgraaf owes its name to "de landgraaf", an age-old line of defense that can still be seen as a hollow road in the landscape at a number of points. Coming from the Brunsummerheide, the earthenware extends in the direction of Nieuwenhagen, where it disappears close to the Kleikoeleweg. The Landgrave used to run from here all the way to the marshes northeast of Schinveld. Now he lives on the spot only in the street name "Oude Landgraaf". In the past, a very high age was sometimes attributed to the landgrave.

Translated by Google •

Miranda 🥾 TriA© / Johnny

September 1, 2025

Continued:

The earthworks would have served as a prehistoric defense line or as a rampart for the nearby Iron Age urn fields. However, recent archaeological research has shown that the landgrave most likely dates from the second half of the 14th century. At that time, the landgrave was located on the edge of the Land van Valkenburg. When Jan van Valkenburg died without a successor in 1352, this important territory fell into the hands of the Duke of Brabant. He likely built the landgrave to protect against aggression from his arch-enemies, the Dukes of Guelders and Jülich.

Thanks to archaeological research, we know that during its functional years, the landgrave consisted of a pointed ditch, with an average depth of 2.2 meters and a width of 6.4 meters. Ramparts were built on either side of the ditch using the displaced earth, resulting in a total width of approximately 20 to 22 meters. On top of the ramparts, impenetrable hedges of thorny shrubs have been planted and interwoven. Attempts to penetrate them may be discouraged by tripping holes and other obstacles.

On higher ground, watchtowers stand, providing a view of the entire surrounding area. This allows the alarm to be raised in time by means of fire signals. The Lichtenberg neighborhood, situated on a hill, may still owe its name to such a tower. This system allows local rulers to mobilize their troops in time to combat attackers. For the local population, the landgraaf also serves as an ideal cattle barrier and protection against roving bands of robbers and predators.

Translated by Google •

Miranda 🥾 TriA© / Johnny

September 1, 2025

Continued:

In later centuries, the landgraaf lost its function. Nature was given free rein, the ramparts eroded, and the ditch filled in. The landgraaf is now used as a sunken road, and people forget who built it and when. Frans Erens (1857-1935), the well-known man of letters from Schaesberg, recounts that in his youth, people still believed that Napoleon had dug the landgraaf. Erens enjoyed being rolled down the slopes. He deeply regretted that landowners later leveled large parts of the landgraaf.

Over the course of the 20th century, even more sections of the landgraaf disappeared due to mining, sand quarrying, and housing development. Yet, the landgraaf was not forgotten. On December 14, 1980, the cooperating SUN municipalities of Schaesberg, Ubach over Worms, and Nieuwenhagen even decided to name the newly established municipality of Landgraaf after the earthwork. Thus, a centuries-old symbol of border demarcation has become a symbol of unity and connection.

Source/info:
visitzuidlimburg.nl/te-doen-in-zuid-limburg/attracties-bezienswaardigheden/detail/verdedigingslinie-de-landgraaf-/63908

Translated by Google •

Details

Informations

Distance 322 m

Uphill 10 m

Weather

Thursday 6 November

16°C

8°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 6.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Sand Area in Brunssummerheide

Leenderkapel (Kapel van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van de Berg Karmel)

Stone Steps Trail, Brunssummerheide

Christopherussee

Uitzicht Vanaf de Top van de Wilhelminaberg

Brunssummerheide

Steep Sandy Slope, Brunssummerheide

View of the Püttschneise in Teverener Heide Nature Reserve

Heringsbosch Lake

Wooden Boardwalk Through the Wetland, Brunssummerheide

Defense Line "The Landgrave"

1. The Landgraaf – The Landgraaf loop from Kakert

2. The Landgraaf – The Landgraaf loop from Maria Christinawijk

3. Heerlen Station – Street art mural by Super A loop from Heerlen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️