Castle Montfoort

Godfried van Rhenen, bishop of Utrecht from 1156 to 1178, is the founder of the Montfoort castle. The main reason for building it at this strategic location along the Hollandsche IJssel was the protection of the Sticht against incursions from the county of Holland. The burgrave resided in the castle, serving the bishop but increasingly asserting his independence throughout history. From 1281, the burgraviate of Montfoort came into the hands of the family De Rover. After this family died out in the male line in 1583, descendants from the Southern Netherlands family De Merode became burgraves.

The name Montfoort castle is derived from the Latin Mons Fortis, which means strong mountain or fortress. The fortress was located, after the settlement of Montfoort became a city in 1329, partly within the city. Access to the castle was through the city. From the many images preserved of the castle, it can be inferred that it was a substantial castle. However, its origin must have been simple, in the form of a residential tower. The main fortress was no longer permanently inhabited after it came into the hands of the family De Merode. When the burgrave came to Montfoort to take care of affairs, he sometimes stayed with the steward or bailiff, who lived in the outer courtyard.

In 1648, the burgrave sold the castle and the lordly rights of Montfoort for 225,000 guilders to the States of Utrecht. In the disaster year 1672, the castle was largely destroyed. On November 6 of that year, the French troops demolished the upper walls of the castle, while the next day the castle was blown up. The stones from the ruins were subsequently sold.

However, the outer courtyard with the gatehouse was spared. This is just a meager remnant of the proud castle of yore. By the States of Utrecht, the castle was lent to the city of Montfoort for a long time in 1688. The city leased it out to notable residents, and for example, the mayor Daunis and Gobius inhabited and beautified the outer courtyard. The Gobius family continued to live on the castle grounds until 1833. Afterwards, a boarding school was established. In 1859, the Domains became the owner of the land, and a prison for girls was built there, later a State Reformatory School for Girls. The state reformatory existed here until 1968. Afterwards, the municipality of Montfoort became the owner again, and after the reorganization of 1989, a new town hall was built.

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