The house is mentioned in documents from 1363 and 1380, and may date from the 14th century. It is unknown who was the founder of this castle. In 1380, Mechteld van Gelre, duchess widow of Cleves, transferred the castle to Ernst Momm. After the Momm family, who owned the castle for more than two centuries, it passed into the hands of different owners and families. During the Eighty Years' War, Prince Maurits used the castle as a blockhouse in his State-Spanish Lines against the Spaniards. This castle, which was still a real castle complete with a drawbridge in the Middle Ages, was demolished in the 18th century and replaced by a country house. On the estate you can still see a white pigeon tower from 1785.
Legend The Babberich house is popularly known as Halsaf. An old legend explains how the castle got this name. The maid was alone in the castle in the evenings. A group of seven robbers asked to be let in that evening. The maid explains that they cannot all enter at the same time, but one by one they can enter through an opening on the side of the castle. As soon as the robbers put their heads in through the small opening, the maid chops off the head with a sword, one by one, all but one. This way she knows how to prevent the robbery in the castle. Later, the maidservant was invited by a handsome young man for a carriage ride across the Babberich heath. When his wig was blown off, the maidservant recognized him as the last robber and threw him off the carriage. The last robber fell to the wheels of the carriage and was killed instantly. The story goes that she still watches over the castle and its inhabitants. (Source: life in the Liemers)
Translated by Google •
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