Holiday apartment in Bunnik: Waterlinie, river landscape and country estates

Bunnik combines Roman history, Waterlinie forts and the landscape of the Kromme Rijn. Castellum Fectio was built around the beginning of the Common Era. Fort bij Rijnauwen is also located nearby, the largest and greenest fort of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

Castellum Fectio was rebuilt several times and abandoned around 275. The reconstructed outline of its final construction phase from AD 315 can be traced along several walking routes. Fort bij Vechten represents another historical layer: it was built in 1870 as part of the second ring of fortifications around Utrecht and comprises 16 bombproof, earth-covered buildings.

The Waterliniemuseum Fort bij Vechten offers an interactive historical journey of discovery through the Waterlinie. Interactive exhibitions explore the Waterlinies, Roman history and nature in the forts. The museum also offers guided tours of Fort bij Vechten and nearby Castellum Fectio. Fort bij Rijnauwen is accessible only during guided tours or other events and only when accompanied.

Landhuis Oud Amelisweerd also preserves distinctive historical details. The building is a Rijksmonument and is particularly known for its 18th-century Chinese wallpaper. The layout of the rooms, floors, doors and ceilings has remained unchanged since 1770. Today, the Landhuis offers changing exhibitions and programmes by various artists and organisations for a diverse audience.

Landscape

The Langs de Kromme Rijn route explores the course of the river around Bunnik. It passes wooded country estates, a fort and bunkers, and begins at the Oud Amelisweerd car park on Koningslaan, 3981 AT Bunnik. From Bunnik railway station, Fort bij Vechten can be reached by bicycle in about ten minutes.

Rhijnauwen, together with the adjoining Buitenplaatsen Oud- and Nieuw-Amelisweerd, forms a continuous green area with significant landscape and cultural-historical value. Landgoed Niënhof near Bunnik comprises meadows, parkland and a light ash woodland with dense undergrowth. The landscape along the Kromme Rijn near Landgoed Niënhof provides a habitat for grass snakes, demoiselle damselflies and kingfishers.

Paths

The Bunkerpad connects Fort bij Vechten with Fort bij Rijnauwen and runs through meadows and along bunkers. The Bunkerpad app brings the landscape, cultural heritage and related stories to life. The Slagmaatpad starts at Fort bij Vechten, is about 7 km long and leads through the rural area of Bunnik and Houten. Several shorter loops make it possible to shorten the walk.

Gardens and water

An educational guided boat trip on the Kromme Rijn begins near Grotelaan 16 in Bunnik. In Rhijnauwen, the centrally located Theehuis makes the area particularly popular with those seeking recreation.

Tuinderij Amelis'Hof grows vegetables, herbs and flowers using traditional methods from the historic gardens of country estates and Buitenplaatsen. From May to November, it sells fresh organic vegetables, fruit and herbs in the garden shop and offers seasonal flower picking.

For further location options: Bunnik, Werkhoven.

For the higher-level travel overview: Utrecht.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Maarssen, Woudenberg, De Bilt, Vianen, Veenendaal, Lopik.