De Bol at Redichem

The Bol Op Redichem in Culemborg is the only remaining country estate along the Beusichemse Dijk, near the Redichemse Waard. The main building and the historic park layout are a national monument.

In 1640, Philip Theodore of Waldeck-Pyrmont, Count of Culemborg, had a 'Play of Sommerhuys' built on the spot. The house is located on the Rondeel, an old walking forest from the 17th century. The Roundel consists of a square system of avenues. The avenues were planted with elms, the intermediate sections the 'Percken' with fruit trees. The playhouse was built at a height called the Kerswerff or De Bol.
The building had a few rooms and had a stair turret on the side. In 1672, the house was badly damaged by French troops and the avenues of the walking park were cut down. The ruin was then demolished, but the name De Bol was retained. In 1859 the plot and adjoining lands were sold to the Roman Catholic minor seminary of the Jesuits in Culemborg. In 1860 a 'villa' was built here for the fathers and the pupils, which was given the name 'Tusculum', named after Cicero's country residence in the mountains near Rome. Here they spent their time twice a week playing ball games such as cricket and skittles. In 1888, the Tusculum of 1860 was replaced by the current building in neo-Gothic and Chinese style. In order to be able to play the games indoors, the front part of the house was not divided and was more than five meters high. In 1935 the seminary was moved to Apeldoorn. The Jesuit playhouse fell into disrepair. In 1961 the house was saved by purchase by a private individual.

Wikipedia