Discover Bronckhorst: Country Estates, Gardens and Culture

Bronckhorst offers several themes to consider when planning a trip: historic country estates and gardens, routes through the countryside, and museums and cultural sites. The routes vary considerably in length, while the collections range from regional history and art to religious heritage.

Country Estates, Gardens and Routes

Landgoed Hackfort includes the historic Hof van Hackfort kitchen garden. The estate is also home to a watermill about 300 years old, where grain can still be ground traditionally. The Kasteelroute Hackfort is a 1.5-kilometre walking trail and is suitable for wheelchair users. The 16-kilometre Hackfort Route is a longer option: it starts at the forecourt or car park of Hackfort, or at Vorden railway station. The station can be reached from Zutphen to Winterswijk by train and bus operated by Arriva.

Landgoed de Wiersse is located in Vorden, in the Achterhoek. Its romantic landscape gardens have been maintained by the same family since 1678 and cover 16 hectares. Garden features include ponds, streams, flower borders and a 75-metre-long beech avenue. De Wildenborch has a different character: its parkland forest, covering more than 30 hectares, is freely accessible to walkers. The Pinetum de Belten, on the grounds of Landgoed de Belten in Vorden, is home to around 900 different conifer species and varieties.

Walking and Cycling

Bronckhorst has more than 400 kilometres of designated walking trails. The Tegel walking trails are connected by around 80 kilometres of cycling routes, which are designed to pass through other villages and districts within Bronckhorst wherever possible. The lengths of the Hackfort routes can be compared separately: the walking trail is 1.5 kilometres long, and the Hackfort Route is 16 kilometres long.

Cycling routes in Bronckhorst follow paved sandy tracks and clinker-brick roads, passing farms, crossing broad meadows and cool forests, and running alongside the winding IJssel. Visitors can get walking and cycling routes, as well as other tourist information, at five tourist information points in the municipality. The Molenkolk is another destination for views of the IJssel landscape: it is a remnant of an IJssel meander and a water-rich area with many fish and birds.

Museums and Historic Sites

Museum Smedekinck is housed in a restored farmhouse with barns. It has hosted a permanent exhibition since 2007, alongside changing exhibitions and themed days about the origins and way of life of people in Zelhem over the centuries. The museum also offers an escape route for families. The Smedekinckpaadjes combine walks with history and the landscape of the Coulissenland.

At Kasteel Vorden, visitors can explore authentically furnished rooms, secret passageways, towers, vaulted cellars and gardens. In Bronkhorst, the Kapel Bronkhorst was endowed by Gijsbrecht van Bronckhorst and his wife Catharina van Leefdael; it was first mentioned in a document dating from 1344. Bronkhorst has 38 national heritage sites and 16 municipal monuments. The municipality of Bronckhorst is said to have a total of 800 monuments, as well as castles and country estates.

Other cultural attractions offer a variety of experiences: the Heiligenbeeldenmuseum is dedicated to preserving and presenting Roman Catholic heritage and displays around 600 images of saints. Kunstgemaal provides a space for contemporary art and design, with changing exhibitions. The Achterhoeks Planetarium in Toldijk has a spherical planetarium featuring 2,844 stars in the northern and southern skies. Advance registration is required for a visit; arrange the details of your visit beforehand.

The Bronkhorstermolen is another historic landmark: it is a windmill built on a mound in 1844. Check its operating and visiting arrangements before travelling. Bronckhorst is also presented as the “Achterhoekse Kastelen- en Landgoederenregio” (“Achterhoek Castles and Country Estates Region”), reflecting the importance of castles and country estates to the region’s identity.

Local Produce and Water

Farm shops in Bronckhorst sell fresh produce directly from the land. At Boomgaardterras De Grote Wei, guests can enjoy views across the orchards from the terrace. The menu includes coffee, homemade apple pie, apple juice and cider made from fruit grown in the orchard. Seasonal opening arrangements may change, so it is advisable to check them before visiting.

Seven comfortable sloops are available for hire on the Oude IJssel. No boating licence is required, and an instruction is provided before departure. Check the rental arrangements before travelling. As well as gardens, walks and cultural visits, Bronckhorst offers local produce and a trip on the water as distinct options to explore.

Discover more destinations: Halle, Hengelo, Hummelo, Keijenborg, Zelhem, Olburgen, Vorden, Bronckhorst, Baak, Steenderen, Wichmond, Toldijk.

Return to the main travel overview: Gelderland.