Elvenschans

Hof van Elven a.k.a. Elvenschans

Heavily renovated farmhouse, recently restored and redesigned as several houses while retaining the original view. Located in the middle of the orchards with terrain folds, on the right bank of the Meuse. The name refers to a now disappeared castle, then fortress and toll house on this site.
The family de Navagne or van Elven is first mentioned in 1282 (knight Gerard de Navange); this family produces a number of lords of Moelingen. The first mention of a castle with a moat dates back to 1571. From this castle, the family of Elven exercises its seigneurial rights over Moelingen. In 1632-1633 Balthazar van Elven rebuilt the castle. However, it was confiscated by the Spaniards under Aytona in 1634, and converted into a fortress, directed against the United Provinces, in order to control the supply of Maastricht and the trade between Maastricht and Liège. As a Spanish garrison town, the fort played a not inconsiderable role in the Eighty Years' War. The castle of Balthazar van Elven will be located within the walls of the fortress.
As a result of the Partition Treaty (1661), in which the Lands of Overmaas were divided between Spain and the United Provinces, the land on which the fort was built, together with the immediate surroundings, belonged to the Spaniards. After this period, the fort was fortified again: it was possible that in 1663 it was provided with an extra ring of canals. A brewery will also be added to the complex.
In 1673 the French conquered Maastricht, and after the declaration of war by Spain against France, a number of acts of sabotage followed from the still Spanish fortress on the immediate vicinity occupied by the French. The French, under Marshal de Bellefonds, took the fort in 1674 and partially dismantled it.
At the Peace of Nijmwegen in 1678, the fort returned to Spanish hands and was rebuilt. In 1697 it was completely out of use again, probably as a result of the destruction during the Nine Years' War (1688-1697).
During the War of the Spanish Succession, the fort, which had fallen into French hands, was taken by the State garrison from Maastricht (1702) and this time completely destroyed. It will not be rebuilt. In 1717, the Austrians built a new toll house with a chapel; in the course of the 18th century, Navange became the seat of an Austrian toll district that stretched from Eupen to Sittard. In 1798 it was sold to a private individual (Godefroid Lonhienne from Liège). In 1914, the toll booth and chapel were destroyed by German troops. In 1919, after draining the site, the healing spring, which is already mentioned in 1632 and was located on the square in front of the castle, was drained. After 1974 (construction of the E9), the ground plan of the fortress, which until then was clearly visible, was lost. The remains of the eastern and northern ramparts and the moat are on Dutch territory.
The farm, which is intended to encompass part of the forecourt buildings of the former castle as its core, is located on Belgian territory. The farmhouse, which has now been heavily renovated, dates mainly from the second half of the 19th century, with scarce remains that refer to an older core from the second half of the 18th century, including a basket-arched door in a rectangular limestone frame with projecting keystone with drip moulding, next to the entrance gate in the east wing

Eijsden-Margraten