Maze with hermit cave

A maze on the De Paltz estate in Soest leads to a cave where a hermit awaits visitors. The attraction, once built as a joke, has been restored after four years of work.

The hermitage was built in 1883 by Jonkheer Rutgers van Rozenburg who lived on the estate with his family. He built the cave as a joke for his daughters and guests.

Visitors had to find their way through a maze to get to the cave. Inside, the 'hermit' could be found in the form of a statue of a monk.

Over time, the statue has lost its head. "We don't know what happened to that," says Bert Smit. From the beginning, he was involved in the project group that raised the restoration with the owner of the Utrecht Landscape. "The monk now has his head back. It was created by artist Hans de Goede. He looks down on the visitors in a friendly way."

Maze
The cave has also been overhauled. The ceiling has been raised, because the Dutch have become a lot longer over time. "We used the original material for it. The biggest change is that it's safe now."

The maze was replanted, because there was little left of it. Added together, the paths are 1,100 meters long. "If you walk well in one go, you are 400 meters to the cave."

Visitors who have not paid attention on the way there - accompanied by a guide - run the risk of having to take a long walk on the way back. Losing each other doesn't have to be a problem, smit believes. The beech hedges are 1.60 meters high.

The guided walks stop at the cave. There the guide tells about the history.

In about a month there will be an information panel for visitors who do not have a guide with them.

Smit has only had enthusiastic reactions. "This is part of the cultural heritage of Soest. Now that it has been restored, everyone can enjoy it."

Source: AD 16-06-2017

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