Oud-Valkenburg 5

Through a beautiful driveway, domed by linden trees, we reach Schaloen Castle in Oud Valkenburg. Via an intermediate bridge we reach the island on which Schaloen Castle is built. The total area of the NSW estate is approximately 10,000 m2. Castle Schaloen is still between two other castles namely Castle Oost and Castle Genhoes. These three castles are in a 400 hectare nature reserve. It is a protected nature reserve. Most of the inside of the castle has been beautifully restored. Behind the castle flows the fastest river in the Netherlands, the Geul. These gully beds in the beautiful landscape show the past of the meandering river. The ornamental garden around the castle also looks beautiful, the bridges and quay walls completely rebuilt and restored.
The outbuildings, gatehouse, tithe barn and economy building can be purchased separately.

General details

History
Around the year 1200, Schaloen castle was built as a defensive fortress by order of the family of Hulsberg. Of the castle history of Schaloen is unfortunately little known. However, remnants of it can still be seen in the vaults of the current castle. Schaloen was an almost square building with two massive buttresses at each corner and an arkel tower in the roof. Around the roof, which stood in a tent shape within the walls, was a weather corridor, where soldiers watched over the safety of the castle residents and their guests. To protect the soldiers from shelling from outside, a werang wall was erected. Loopholes in this wall allowed the soldiers to defend themselves from the inside. Near the original castle, the outbuildings were on the right side of the main building. From there, a bridge across the marshy moat gave access to the "island" of Schaloen. When the bridge was raised, the marsh formed an excellent line of defense. The walls of the castle in its first form were over two meters thick and built of basalt boulders. The doors were of ten centimeters thick solid oak. This made the castle an almost impregnable fortress. Nevertheless, the castle was almost completely burned down in 1575 due to war. In the year 1656 the rebuilding of the castle was completed, which can still be seen by the year formed by the wall anchors in the then completed left extension. Of the original construction around 1200, only the walls and two arkel towers remained. Since the defense corridors were not rebuilt there was no longer a defensive castle. The castle was therefore often described from then on as the "Lusthof" Schaloen. When it was rebuilt in 1656, the outbuildings were omitted. But the lord of the castle needed staff, work space and storage sheds, so the outbuildings were erected on the left side of the castle. In 1701 (this can also be seen in the wall anchors) a blacksmith's shop and a workshop arose. In 1718 the magnificent gatehouse and the current entrance bridge followed, and in 1721 a gardener's and a carpenter's house were completed, as well as a covered garage for the carriages.
In 1727 another building was added, the Tiend-Shed. Here the tenants of the lands of Schaloen had to pay tithes. One tenth of the proceeds of the lands had to be paid to the powerful lord of the castle. An early form of taxation. Where once poverty had to be surrendered, now you can enjoy your vacation richly. The tithing building houses beautiful hotel rooms.

Residents
The whole area up to Valkenburg, but also the lands in front and to the right of the castle once belonged to the property of Schaloen. Even the castle Valkenburg, the current ruin, which due to its location high above everything even now still has the powerful appearance of yesteryear, belonged to the family of Hulsberg from 1798 to 1918. At the end of the 19th century, Count Villers-Masbourg d'Eclaye, joined to the van Hulsberg family by marriage, commissioned an architect to give the castle a new look. In 1894, the renovation was completed. The castle became a feast for the eyes and has remained so to this day. Until 1934, the van Hulsberg family occupied the castle. During the Second World War, Schaloen also proved attractive to the Germans. As a result, the castle was totally plundered and left uninhabitable. In 1968 the castle was sold for lack of money. After years of further abuse and looting, the current owners, Bot family, bought the castle and associated buildings in 1985.

Year built: ca. 1200, 1656 (rebuilt castle), restored from 1985
Plot area: 10,000 m2 (castle), subsoil outbuildings 12,225 m2.
Remarks: national monument, provincial monument
Destination: residential, catering, vacation apartments, hotel

Layout castle
Through a side door of the castle is the lobby accessible. The lobby is equipped with a reception desk, meter cupboard, disabled toilet and toilets on the mezzanine. The lounge, v.v. stone fireplace, bar and sitting areas. The frescoes that can be seen in the lounge, kitchen and dining room attract a lot of attention. Adjacent to the lounge is the tower room, through a glass floor plate the well is visible. Through the lounge we enter the former kitchen of the castle, here there are still the original pump and pump tank as well as a monumental refrigerator. The floors in the lounge, tower, kitchen and dining room are oak parquet. The floors in the hall and the company kitchen have baked tiles. Through this former kitchen you reach the dining vault. Here again, the beautiful frescoes against the marl vault are visible. In this room are also the traces of the very first staircase visible and possibly at the first castle built donjon. Through the vaulted ceiling you can reach the high quality and fully equipped kitchen. Through the emergency exit in this company kitchen, the front door of the castle is accessible.

Ground floor
Through the stone staircase at the front door we reach the 1st hall on the second floor, immediately visible are the monumental ornamental ceilings with beautiful edges and a finished marble mosaic floor. On the right side are the access doors to the bathroom and toilet. Through another access door from this hall we enter the reception room, this reception room again has a beautiful stucco ceiling with ornaments and moldings. The walls are equipped with wood grain stucco paneling and moldings. The white marble fireplace has been beautifully restored. At the rear of this reception room is another stone balcony with huge balcony supports located. Through an entrance door in the reception room we enter the "church hall", here is now a bedroom located. In this bedroom there is also the altar with the monumental altar doors on which one door depicts the angel Gabriel bringing Mary the message that she will give birth to Christ, on the other door Mary is depicted with the opened Bible. Adjacent to this bedroom is the bathroom, equipped with bath, shower, bidet, toilet and bathroom cabinet. The walls and floor is v.v. marble, the shower and bath are finished with turned wooden columns and gold-stitched curtains. Through the 1st hall we enter the staircase hall, on the right side we reach the former library, here is now the private kitchen located. Here again a magnificent stucco ceiling with ornaments and cornices. In the private kitchen is also a beautiful fireplace, made of pink marble. The walls in this room have paneling made of stucco and moldings. The kitchen is white plastic finished with white and gold trim and glassy plastic kitchen countertop and kitchen bar. The kitchen is equipped with refrigerators and freezers. Through the stairwell, on the left side we reach through double doors the knights room, this room is now in use as a living room and has in addition to a dominant monumental fireplace a beautiful oak floor with herringbone edge and corner finish. The fireplace has an oak fascia with a goblin as the front finish. Around the fireplace surround is a glass mosaic covered in gold leaf. Against the main beams of the ceiling are the initials of the restorer (Count Villers de Masbourg). The ceiling is of stucco with ornaments and cornices. The large windows in the front, top and rear façade give enormous light. Immediately adjacent is the tower room where an office space is currently set up. The radiators are nicely finished with decorative paneling. The floors of the tower room, knight's hall, kitchen, reception room and bedroom are oak.

1st floor
Through a monumental oak staircase with leather stair runner we reach the landing on the second floor. Also immediately notice the beautifully crafted glass panels in the doors. On this floor there are three bedrooms and a room. Bedroom 1 is equipped with a marble fireplace with oak construction and give this bedroom a chic and beautiful look. The bedroom has combined with bedroom 2 a private bathroom and toilet adjacent to both bedrooms. Bedroom 3 is the guest room and has a beautifully finished stucco ceiling with ornaments and moldings. A romantic shower has been installed in this bedroom, the original toilet room has been restored and adapted to today's requirements. The hall on this floor is very spacious with an adjoining tower room, the ceilings are stucco with mother beams and child beams with arched stucco ceilings. All floors on this floor are oak.

2nd floor
Through an oak staircase we reach the landing on the second floor, also called staff floor. Here are staff quarters that have yet to be finished. On this floor are the main outlets including gas, water and electricity.

Attic
Through the stairs in the central landing on the second floor we reach the attic of the castle. This attic consists of one large room where the central heating and hot water equipment are located.

Outbuildings
These may be purchased separately.
Through a private parking lot, over the access bridge we reach a number of outbuildings. One of these outbuildings is the gatehouse, which is closed with large gates. On the left side we can see a beautiful economy building, also called an apartment building. Opposite the gatehouse we see the Tiendgebouw, which houses hotel rooms and a separate storage area. There is also another Swan House built that serves as storage space. The entire complex is a National and Provincial Monument

Gatehouse
This gatehouse used to house the gatekeeper and housed a small bakery. Now it serves as catering space with a restaurant hall. The first floor contains the rinse kitchen, the company kitchen, a bar with seating area and a restaurant hall for about 60 people. In the basement is the bakery, a cozy seating area with a baker's oven as a fireplace, for about 40 people. Behind this bakery oven is another wine cellar that now serves as beverage storage. On the 1st floor there is a meeting room. This space is equipped with toilets and a fully managed apartment, with hall, living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

Economy Building
Where once the blacksmith forged the iron is now a complete apartment building. The apartments are equipped with hall, living room, open kitchen or kitchenette and toilet on the first floor and two or three bedrooms with bathroom on the second floor. From these apartments you can enjoy the view of the Valkenburg ruins, the particularly beautiful characteristic Limburg landscape and of course our own castle Schaloen.

Tiendgebouw
Where once everyone was obliged to pay a tenth of the yield of the land to the lord of the castle, currently four hotel rooms and a large storage room have been realized. Twelve more hotel rooms or two halls may be built in this storage room and above these hotel rooms. The connections and first floor are in place for this purpose.

Swan House
This small building used to be the home of the swans that resided in the castle moat. Now it is used for storage of garden equipment.

Gardens/bridges/stables
The castle moat has been dredged and infrastructure and paths constructed. The gardens have also been elevated and planted into an ornamental garden. The bridges and quay walls have been completely rebuilt and restored. A parking lot has also been constructed outside the gate for approximately 30 cars, this parking lot is on private land and can therefore be closed to the public.

DISCLAIMER
All information and dimensions are expressly of an indicative nature; no rights can be derived.
Given the very special nature of this unique object, it may not meet the Measuring Instruction Use Area Dwellings (NEN 2580). Prospective buyers are expressly invited to measure the area of the property and have an architectural inspection carried out. Should they waive this, they indemnify the broker from all liability.
ENTHOUSIAST? We can imagine that, we invite you for a no-obligation viewing!