Whatagain in the 'drei Grenzen'.

[whatagain]

Meaning the 3 borders, where Germany, Belgium and Netherlands interlace.

I started in Herzogenrath, which is 3 kms from Nl border.

[whatagain]

I parked just there - the blue Renault. I love these old buildings. There was a church next to it, but quite ugly. 

200 meyers from there, a nice house. 

I stepped inside. I think we could survive there. 

The castle of Herzo - btw means red baron. 
Methinks the original castle was less er mansionlike. 

The walls are quie old. 

I love this 'castle'.

[whatagain]

Five kms from there, back in NL, in Kerkrade. 
I think the castle is called Erenstein. Built in middle age, rebuilt after a fire end of XVII.

bigger than ducks. Geese ? 

Inside is now a restaurant. Do they have karnemelk ? 



I thought it looks a bit like in a Pagnol book... 

[whatagain]

Another few kms and another castle.
Moerworm i think. 
I love that door.

Coming...

Inside. A hotel and restaurant. 

Looking at the door, from the inside. Reconstruction of the castle dates from 1670.

But the right aile has clearly been rebuilt much later than 1670. 

[whatagain]

These things are called horodateurs in french. 
They disappeared long ago in Belgium but are still there in NL. 

My next stop. Clearly not a castle.
Ever seen something so ugly ?
Itv s in Heerlen. What could appeal to me there... 

[whatagain]

Ok. The concrete coffin is protecting this. 

This is the entrance of a roman bath. 

This is the atructure if the baths, the oven is close on the left, the heat went around these pillars, under the floor. 


This was the sauna. There was one dry, one wet. 

And the frigidarium. Yes, fridge comes from there. 
Koudwaterbad means cold water bath.
So easy to soeak dutch. 
ibb.co/3dr3rsD

[whatagain]

[whatagain]

By now, you know the trick. 
A few kms, a castle.
This one looks like 3 in one. 
You enter here, and find yourself inside a courtyard. 

See the courtyard, one wall is missing or has never been built. 

Then you see the second gate. With a bridge. 



Went through the gate. Another courtyard. With walls on 3 sides, water on the 4th. 

And... yes, another bridge, and the 3rd courtyard. 4 walls. The castle. 

Ready to go ? 
Follow me, i had to pay 13.95 euros to be there. 

This reproduction show the 3 courtyards

[whatagain]

Looks like an eatingroom to me.

The decoration is grandiose.

An anteroom, a salon ? 

Yes we can go to all floors. 

We call it marquetterie in french. 
I find this one just stunning. 

Lots of those actually. I counted 4 or 5. 

What if we dance ? 

Inside the tower. 

Not everybody inside was noble. Some were working. 







Trophies... 

[tod2]

What an interesting tour - I totally agree with your view on the Marquetterie cupboard/dresser. It is absolutely stunning even though your photo is pretty frot. You were not to know.
I must admit I did not like to see the modern children's "Jumping Castle"'erected in one of the courtyards. When are children going to be schooled in being quiet and not always having to jump their brains out.

[kerouac2]

Very nice view of how meaningless most of our borders are -- we are all the same people. In my own ancestral area, there are two other places called "3 borders" -- Esch, Messancy and Mont Saint Martin for Luxembourg, Belgium, France, and Schengen, Apach and Perl for Luxembourg, France and Germany.

One thing that I have always thought was great is that the "medium-sized" cities of Metz, Luxembourg and Saarbrücken work together to get the big musical acts to visit them. Whichever of the 3 cities lands the contract (e.g. Rolling Stones, Madonna...) sets up bus services for the concert to the other two cities. The biggest ones also have bus service to Arlon in Belgium and Trier.

I wonder if the area you visited also does that sort of thing, whatagain. The kids just want to have fun!

[fumobici]

Magnificent! Ancient stone architecture still standing is always inspirational for me to see. Plus it's so pretty to look at.

Moats are wonderful architectural features, one that's rarely seen in old Italian fortifications. I suppose it works better in low countries with flat river plains and lots of rain, much more difficult in a typical hilltop Italian fort.

The furniture with the figured walnut and marquetry is an amazing artwork in its own right.

[kerouac2]

I have a very small and rather primitive marquetry box made by a German prisoner of war who was assigned to agricultural work in Lorraine right after the war. He gave it to my grandfather, who had been a French prisoner of war in Germany assigned to agricultural work in 1914.

It is a treasure to me.

[whatagain]

The jumping castle is a nasty addition, however in that courtyard were disposed some games pnayed back then. Wooden ones for most. I went quite quickly by.

[bjd]

I like the old brick buildings you show.

Those geese are Canada geese -- they are a nuisance, no longer migrate south and reproduce quickly. I don't now how they arrived there but it was a mistake.

Is that area not visited much by outsiders? I find it strange that the information signs are only in Dutch.

[lugg]

Great photos Whatagain and enjoyed seeing your journey. the buildings and brickwork are wonderful as is the piece of furniture with the marquetry - I wonder what it is - a desk, well that is my best guess.

What is karnemelk ?

[lagatta]

Karnemelk is buttermilk. The Dutch seem to like to drink it, for some reason. I never touched it.

[tod2]

We know "Karnemelk" as Karringmelk - which is as you correctly say, Buttermilk. I don't know about drinking it but certainly good for recipes that are made with flour, like bread or scones.
I think if you let it mature you can turn it into butter by beating it vigorously and separating the whey.- ? Not sure.

I forgot to mention that I was pleased to see that there are Roman remains of a city or village. I love looking at that stuff.

[lugg]

Sept 11, 2021 20:22:54 GMT lagatta said:

Karnemelk is buttermilk.

Thank you Lagatta and Tod.