The first reference to Vianen is a document from 1271 in which Zweder I van Beusichem received permission to hold a market twice a year at his Vyanen Castle. The town of Vianen was still non-existent at that time. It sprang up in the shadow of the castle in the following years.
The foundations of Vyanen Castle, also known as ‘Op de Bol’ Castle, lie slightly outside the current town centre at the site of the current ’t Wed. Archaeological excavations in 1969-1971 revealed that it was an irregular octagonal-walled castle surrounded by a moat. The contours of the castle are now partly visible in the road surface.
Vyanen Castle was probably built around 1250 b…
The first reference to Vianen is a document from 1271 in which Zweder I van Beusichem received permission to hold a market twice a year at his Vyanen Castle. The town of Vianen was still non-existent at that time. It sprang up in the shadow of the castle in the following years.
The foundations of Vyanen Castle, also known as ‘Op de Bol’ Castle, lie slightly outside the current town centre at the site of the current ’t Wed. Archaeological excavations in 1969-1971 revealed that it was an irregular octagonal-walled castle surrounded by a moat. The contours of the castle are now partly visible in the road surface.
Vyanen Castle was probably built around 1250 by Steven de Schenker van Beusichem. It was the only non-Arkel Castle in the Vijfheerenlanden. To protect his land against water, Zweder, together with 4 other lords, conducted drainage management and dike maintenance. The area took its name ‘Vijfheerenlanden’ (Land of the Five Lords) from this co-operation.
In the year 1370, Gijsbert van Beusichem, Lord of Vianen and grandson of Zweder I van Beusichem, demolished the castle. He built a new castle from the old stones – Batestein Castle.
Further reading: Lek dike, Batestein Castle, The horse, Town wall and town canal, Hagestein Castle.
