Cranendonck Castle

Cranendonck Castle was built around 1250 between Maarheeze and Soerendonk. It was named after
the natural conditions at the site: 'crane' from the bird and 'donk' meaning hill. The small castle has a
rich history and even a connection with the Dutch Royal Family.
From the mid-16th century until the end of the Ancien Régime, the castle was the property of the
House of Orange. In 1820, the crown domain of the Orange estates was sold, and Cranendonck

Castle came into private hands. The old castle was largely destroyed by the French in 1673. The farm
near the castle was demolished in 1899 and replaced by a villa, the little castle that still stands
today. 
The municipality of Maarheeze became the owner of the Cranendonck estate in 1938. The existing
villa was modified and put into use as town hall in 1940. This was where the municipality of
Maarheeze operated from until the merger of the municipalities of Maarheeze and Budel.
The old castle
At the start of the last century, the above-ground parts of the castle were removed. In 1996, test
drilling revealed the foundations of the former castle. A more extensive survey was then
commissioned to map the contours of the old castle. In 2008, these contours were visibly installed in
the field.
The castle is currently being used as a wedding location. The surroundings and outline of the castle
make the area well suited for a walk or as a stopover during a bicycle ride.