Gardens, woodland landscapes and historic places give Driebergen-Rijsenburg a variety of distinct experiences. You can shape your stay around a walk through a sunny clearing, garden art or local history, for example. There is also a specific option for a cycling tour: the Castle tour Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Kromme Rijnstreek is 32 kilometres long. When planning, it is worth checking the visitor conditions for each place – these range from free access to guided tours by appointment.
Forests, meadows and paths
The Heidetuin is a sunny woodland clearing with individual trees, shrubs and plenty of heather. Meandering waterways with bridges add to the landscape. The Heidetuin is easily accessible for wheelchair users, making it a practical option for anyone who considers accessibility when choosing an outing.
The Rijsenburgse Bos is also easily accessible for wheelchair users. Mountain biking is permitted there on the paved cycle path. This permission applies only to the paved cycle path, not to arbitrary routes through the forest.
The Seminarieterrein is part of the Rijsenburgse Bos. You can stroll along its impressive avenues. Around Kasteel Sterkenburg, more than 15 years of extensive mowing have created herb-rich meadows. The meadows and avenues offer a different landscape experience from the bright, heather-rich Heidetuin.
Gardens and good food
The Tuinen van Kraaybeekerhof include a pick-your-own garden, a nursery with a flower-picking garden, a food forest, an herb garden, a seasonal tea garden and an estate shop. The Kraaybeekerhof estate is freely accessible from sunrise to sunset. The tea garden's seasonal nature is worth bearing in mind, along with the variety of garden areas.
On Thursday evenings, the three-course “Proef de Tuin” menu features fresh produce from the garden. Between the main course and dessert, there is a walk through the vegetable garden and food forest. The evening thus combines a meal with an introduction to these garden areas, rather than simply offering dinner.
Historic village centres and estates
The historic centre of Rijsenburg is designated as a protected villagescape. Driebergen-Rijsenburg's Kerkplein is semicircular, and workers' houses from the Napoleonic era stand there. The Church of St. Petrus Banden, built for members of the Catholic faith, is also on Kerkplein. The square's layout, the houses and the church offer different points of interest if you are interested in the built environment.
Sparrendaal was established by former Utrecht mayor Jacob van Berck on the site of a 17th-century farm. The historic garden and park retain a formal avenue layout and a waterway system. Other features include a beech hedge along the north-western boundary, a curved wall and a forecourt.
Kasteel Sterkenburg is the centre of an estate, with a coach house, gardener's house, park and garden surrounding the castle. Private guided tours of Kasteel Sterkenburg for adults and children can be arranged by appointment for groups of ten or more. The Driebergse Lourdesgrot offers a different way to experience a historic place: it was built around 120 years ago on the grounds of the former Grootseminarie Rijsenburg. The freely accessible grotto is a Marian chapel with a statue of Mary and is used for conversation, spirituality and lighting candles.
A cycling tour with a set start and finish point
The 32-kilometre Castle tour Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Kromme Rijnstreek starts and ends at TOP Station Driebergen-Zeist in Driebergen-Rijsenburg. It runs through the forests of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and part of the Kromme Rijnstreek, passing castles, estates and museums. When choosing a cycling tour, you can compare these details with the other interests on your trip.
Discover more destinations: Maarn, Doorn, Maarsbergen, Amerongen, Driebergen, Overberg.
Go to the main travel overview: Utrechtse Heuvelrug.
