The history of Valkenburg can be traced from its hilltop castle rock to its underground passageways. The history of KasteelruĂŻne Valkenburg dates back to the 11th century, and it is the only hilltop castle in the Netherlands. You can visit independently; check the latest visitor information before your trip.
Castle Ruins, Caves and Underground Stories
Fluweelengrot preserves wall drawings and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries. They are connected to the historic marl quarrying carried out by the block breakers. Medieval escape passages connect the cave directly to Kasteelruïne. This brings two discoveries into a clear relationship: the history of the castle continues underground through the passageways. A guided tour of Fluweelengrot takes about 50 minutes; the temperature remains constant at 12 °C. Check the latest tour conditions before setting off.
Romeinse Katakomben also take you underground, but with a different focus. Jan Diepen created the museum with the architect Pierre Cuypers; it opened to the public on 12 July 1910. The interactive “Circle of Life” puzzle tour includes clues, questions and tasks along the route. The “Rome in één dag” tour takes you through tombs, passages and burial chambers: it showcases burial sites of ordinary Roman citizens as well as richly decorated burial chambers belonging to prominent families. Check the latest information about tours and booking.
Gemeentegrot is a man-made quarry excavated for marl mining. It is the only cave in Valkenburg offering a guided tour by train. There is also a guided walk of about 2 kilometres, lasting 60 minutes and suitable for wheelchair users despite possible changes in elevation. This lets you choose between a train ride and a walking tour. Check the latest tour and accessibility conditions before your visit.
Walking Trails and Landscape in the Geul Area
For a walk through hilly, wooded countryside, the marked Gerendal-OV-Stapper trail runs 12.1 kilometres from Schin op Geul to Valkenburg. The route reaches Orchideeëntuin, then descends past Kasteel Schaloen and continues along the Geul to Valkenburg. The sunny, lime-rich slopes of Gerendal provide a habitat for more than 14 orchid species. Orchideeëntuin is open only during the flowering season; during opening hours, a Staatsbosbeheer guide can answer questions and show you around the garden. You can also explore it independently.
History and landscape also meet at Schaelsberg. De Kluis was founded in 1688 and was home to various hermits until 1930. The “In the Footsteps of the Hermits” route follows the story of the people who lived and prayed there for almost 250 years. The route at Schaelsberg also passes calcareous grasslands managed for butterflies, insects, small mammals and rare lime-loving plants. The Sjaasbergergank pilgrimage takes place every year on the last Sunday in June; a mass is held under the lime trees next to the chapel. Check the exact event arrangements before your trip.
In the Genhoes area, trails connect nature, culture and history: they lead to Kasteel Genhoes, De Kluis, through the castle garden and to Oud-Valkenburg. Flowering, herb-rich meadows, limestone rocks millions of years old and habitats for colourful birds shape the area. Ingendael has a different landscape character. Grazing by Galloway cattle and Konik horses has turned it into a rugged, varied natural stream-valley landscape; in the north, a hollow has developed into a marshland. The entire Ingendael area is open to visitors. The Geul flows through Valkenburg and is considered the fastest-flowing river in the Netherlands.
Getting Your Bearings, a City Walk and Local Events
Visit Zuid-Limburg Experience Valkenburg offers visitor information, maps, walking and cycling routes, regional products and a virtual-reality film about the history of South Limburg. The 4.5-kilometre Stadswandeling Valkenburg also starts there, in the town centre. The Valkenburg–Aachen railway line was built in 1853, with a station in Valkenburg, improving access to the town on the Geul at the time. The Stadswandeling and the Experience’s offerings may change; check the latest conditions in advance.
The annual events calendar includes Auw Wieverbal, an open-air festival held before Carnival. It takes place on the Thursday before Carnival in February or early March; the date varies from year to year. Nearby, the approximately 12-kilometre Route des Vins Berg en Terblijt–Houthem St. Gerlach passes through young vineyards and includes a wine tasting at Château St. Gerlach. For this route and the participating venues, too, check the latest information.
Discover more destinations: Valkenburg, Walem, Berg En Terblijt, Schin Op Geul, Nuth, Bergen, Nederweert, Simpelveld.
For the regional travel overview: Limburg.
