Tips
RemcoM
April 5, 2021
Hiking
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
•
•
Miranda 🥾 TriA© / Johnny
September 1, 2025
Hiking
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.
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.
Translated by•
•Miranda 🥾 TriA© / Johnny
September 1, 2025
Hiking
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.
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.
Translated by•
•
Sign up for a free komoot account to get 2 more insider tips and takes.
Nearby routes
Best routes near Defense Line "The Landgrave"
4.0
(3)
23
hikers
4.64km
01:13
40m
40m
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.
Easy
5.0
(1)
21
hikers
7.82km
02:03
60m
60m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily walkable paths.
Moderate
4.0
(3)
13
hikers
5.10km
01:22
60m
60m
Easy hike. Easily walkable paths.
Easy
Details
Informations
Distance 322 m
Uphill 10 m
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Saturday 31 October
11°C
4°C
14 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h
Most visited during
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December