Valkenburg: Roman Heritage and the Limes

Valkenburg can be explored through several historical points of interest. Beneath the town centre lie the remains of the Praetorium Agrippinae fort; on De Woerd, a vicus and sections of the Limes Road form part of the Lower Germanic Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historical profile is complemented by a museum, markings in the street paving, as well as cycling routes and excursions around the former airfield. You can tailor your stay to your interests: Roman history, local history, or activities by bike, on the water and by train.

Valkenburg’s Roman Heritage

The remains of the Praetorium Agrippinae fort beneath the town centre date from 40 AD to the middle of the 3rd century. The outline of the fort and a gate building have been made visible in the street paving. This means the fort can be encountered both as an archaeological site and as a visible marking in the streetscape.

The Praetorium Agrippinae fort in the town centre is also among the sites designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On De Woerd, the vicus with its quays and a section of the Limes Road form part of the Lower Germanic Limes UNESCO World Heritage Site. Valkenburg therefore has several different Roman points of interest: the fort in the town centre and the site on De Woerd associated with the Limes.

Museum and Information in Town

The Torenmuseum Oud Valkenburg is housed in a tower with a lift, right at the site of the former Roman fort Praetorium Agrippinae. On the first floor, a timeline presents Valkenburg’s local history. There is also a permanent exhibition about the town’s Roman heritage. The timeline offers a chronological view of local history, while the exhibition puts the Roman heritage specifically in the spotlight.

There is also a Limes information panel about Castellum Valkenburg on the Schildenkunstwerk at Veerpad. The museum and the panel have different focuses: the museum combines local history with an exhibition on Roman heritage, while the information panel specifically concerns Castellum Valkenburg.

Cycling Routes, Boat Trip and Train

The Monumentenfietsroute passes 20 monuments in Katwijk, Rijnsburg and Valkenburg. The Kust en Zee cycling route runs through Wassenaar, Katwijk, Rijnsburg and Valkenburg. If you want to distinguish between the routes based on their stated focus, the specific number of monuments stands out on the Monumentenfietsroute; Kust en Zee can be identified by the four places it passes through.

The visitor centre at Vliegveld Valkenburg is the starting point for cycling trips through nature and along sections of the Atlantic Wall. The centre also provides information about the history of the airfield. Check the centre’s visitor arrangements before your trip. A cycling route at the former Valkenburg airfield leads to the visitor centre and continues to the village of Valkenburg.

The Limes boat trip complements the cycling routes with a journey on the water: it starts at Katwijkse Zwaaikom and follows the Oude Rijn past Praetorium Agrippinae and Roman Valkenburg. As the service runs seasonally, please check the timetable in advance.

The Stoomtrein Katwijk Leiden in Valkenburg offers rides with steam and diesel locomotives. This means the range of activities in town includes not only historical sites but also a ride on different types of locomotives.

Discover more destinations: Rijnsburg, Katwijk Aan Zee, Katwijk

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