Omlijning Slot Maelstede - Omlijning Slot Maelstede

Stone walls surrounded by a canal

Maalstede / Maelstede: Slot Maalstede (Maelstede) was founded by members of the Maalstede family who already in the 12th century had borrowed estates in Zuid-Beveland that covered about a quarter of the island. The oldest period of Maelstede Castle is the 12-meter high castle hill, on which stood a brick tower at the end of the 12th or the beginning of the 13th century. The mountain has been completely excavated over the years. In 1971, the last remnant of the mound was examined archaeologically, along with the ring moat. In the former moat, fragments of a heavy wall were found - from the top of the mountain - and the lower ends of the heavy oak pillars of a high bridge that probably connected the outer part of the moat with the top of the mountain. At the beginning of the 14th century, the new Maelstede Castle was built in the immediate vicinity of the castle mountain. After completion, the castle complex consisted of the main building and a side wing, which (with a wall on both sides) closed the castle square (about 31 by 29 meters). The rectangular building was surrounded by a moat. A castle chapel with a cemetery belonged to the castle. Wolfert, the last ruler of Maelstede, died in 1448. Subsequently, the castle was successively owned by members of the Bruëlis, Van den Abeele, Van Cats, Sandelin, Van Tuyll van Serooskerke, Schaep and Van Wassenaar families. In 1780 there was only the ruin of the castle; around 1810 the last remains of the ground were pulled down. A small part of the castle grounds (known locally as the "island" on which the later stage of the castle once stood) can be found as a monument at the intersection of Maelstede, Ooststraat, Wemeldingse Zandweg. The commune created a small park above the castle. Stone baskets with steel wire were placed on the remains of the former castle walls. Source: GC8919V (Geocaching).