Eight Castles route Vorden by car
Drive the famous eight-castles loop around Vorden and extend it through the Achterhoek past Kasteel Ruurlo and Lochem. For convertible, touring car, motorbike and camper.
Google Maps starts from your own location. For Garmin, Komoot or TomTom: download the GPX.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Kasteel Hackfort by Dickelbers (CC BY-SA 3.0), Kasteel Vorden by Bert Kaufmann (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Eight castles around one village
Nowhere in the Netherlands do so many castles lie so close together as around the Achterhoek village of Vorden. As early as 1913 the Eight Castles route was laid out here, the oldest signposted tourist route in the country, past eight castles and manor houses in a loop around the village: Vorden, Hackfort, Den Bramel, Het Onstein, De Wiersse, Kieftskamp, Medler and Enzerinck. Most are privately lived in and you admire them from the lane, hidden behind moats and old trees. This route drives that classic loop by car and extends it through the Achterhoek, past Kasteel Ruurlo and the Hanseatic town of Lochem.
About 52 kilometres in all over quiet lanes and country roads, a short but atmospheric drive of just over an hour, or a half day with a castle visit and a terrace. It is the finest way to see why this is called "the land of the eight castles".
The route on the map
A schematic overview by Touren.app, not a navigation map. The exact route opens under “Drive this route” or in Google Maps. Map orientation: north is up.
Soon: your time and starting point
The route and the castles
1. Vorden
Vorden is the heart of the route, with Kasteel Vorden on the edge of the village. From the centre you drive the loop past the eight castles; the finest and most accessible is Kasteel Hackfort, a moated castle of Natuurmonumenten with a watermill and walking paths through the estate. The others (Den Bramel, Medler, Enzerinck, Kieftskamp) are private and admired from the lane.
Practical: park in Vorden; Kasteel Hackfort has its own car park and the estate and watermill are freely accessible.
2. Wildenborch
The hamlet of Wildenborch northeast of Vorden lies in the woods, with Kasteel Het Onstein and, a little further, Kasteel De Wiersse, famous for its romantic gardens that open a few days a year. It is the most tranquil part of the loop, with narrow lanes under old beeches.
Practical: drive gently on the narrow lanes; the gardens of De Wiersse open only on announced days.
3. Ruurlo
At Ruurlo stands Kasteel Ruurlo, which as the MORE museum holds the largest collection of magic-realist painting in the Netherlands, with much work by Carel Willink. Unlike the Vorden castles, this is one you actually go inside. The maze in the park is the largest in the country.
Practical: ample parking at the castle; allow a few hours for the museum and the maze.
4. Barchem
At Barchem the road climbs to the Lochemse Berg, one of the few heights of the Achterhoek, with woods, heath and the odd view over the rolling land. A welcome break from the castle theme, where you stretch your legs before descending to Lochem.
Practical: park at the Lochemse Berg; short forest walks and a viewpoint.
5. Lochem
Lochem is a cheerful Hanseatic town with an old core, the great Gudula church and terraces by the canal. Just outside town lies Kasteel Ampsen. It is the largest place on the route, ideal for a lunch stop halfway before you drive the loop back to Vorden.
Practical: park on the edge of the centre; plenty of cafes on the market and the canal.
6. Warnsveld
Via Warnsveld, on the edge of Zutphen, you close the loop. Here the road follows the valley of the Berkel, with estates and old farms, back towards Vorden. So you end where you began, with the eight castles still fresh in your memory.
Practical: a quiet through road back to Vorden; plenty of places to stop along the way.
Practical: for convertible, motorbike and camper
From which town: the route starts in Vorden, but you need not start there. Enter your own address in the planner, choose your time, and Touren.app rebuilds the same loop from Zutphen, Lochem, Ruurlo or wherever you are staying.
For which vehicle: the Achterhoek is gently rolling, with quiet lanes under old trees, ideal as a scenic drive. It drives well with a camper too; just mind the narrow lanes around the castles.
Honest about the castles: of the eight castles around Vorden, only one, Hackfort, is freely accessible with its estate and watermill. The others are privately lived in and admired from the public lane; do not enter the grounds. To actually visit a castle, Kasteel Ruurlo (the MORE museum) a little further on is the best choice.
Best season: lovely all year, but at its best in late spring, when the lanes are in full leaf, and in autumn, when the Achterhoek woods turn. The gardens of De Wiersse open only on a handful of announced days; check those in advance if you want to see them.
More castles: this route belongs to our castle routes. Want more? The castle route through South Limburg and the Ardennes pass very different castles that you can visit.
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Mail this route to yourselfFrequently asked questions
Which eight castles are on the route?
The classic eight around Vorden are Kasteel Vorden, Hackfort, Den Bramel, Het Onstein, De Wiersse, Kieftskamp, Medler and Enzerinck. Our car route drives that loop and extends it through the Achterhoek past Kasteel Ruurlo and Lochem.
Can you visit the castles?
Most castles around Vorden are privately lived in and admired from the public lane. Kasteel Hackfort (with its estate and watermill) is freely accessible, and Kasteel Ruurlo holds the MORE museum, which you actually go inside.
How long is the route by car?
About 52 kilometres, with just over an hour of pure driving, measured via Google Maps with motorways avoided. With a castle visit and a terrace in Lochem it is a fine half day.
Is the route suitable for convertible, motorbike and camper?
Yes. The Achterhoek is rolling with quiet lanes, pleasant for any vehicle. With a camper, mind the narrow lanes around the castles and park on the edge where you can.
Are the exports really free?
Yes, free with a Touren.app credit on them. You never pay us for exports; those who want to drive ad-free and offline choose Plus.
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Fancy this loop, but from your own front door?
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