Vestingpark Path
A beautiful walking path runs behind our terrace, featuring information panels about the history of Bredevoort.
Vestingpark St. Bernardus
A scenic walking park situated on the former defensive ramparts of Bredevoort.
The park was once owned by the steward family Roelvink, who built the characteristic tea house on the old bastion Vreesniet. The steward’s house, Sint Bernardus, and its garden were purchased in the early 20th century by Bredevoort priest Bernardus Mulder. He transformed it into a center for education and nursing care, creating what became the garden of the St. Bernardus Sanatorium. From that period also date the Lourdes grotto and the tuberculosis cottages.
Around 1933, the building was converted into a retirement home, later becoming a care home for the elderly. The garden was turned into a public park and is now owned by the association Bredevoorts Belang.
In 2015/2016, the garden underwent a major renovation. Diseased trees were removed and new young trees were planted. A “floating” concrete path, over two meters wide and made of elements raised about 25 centimeters above ground level, was laid through the park. This path connects the former bastions Vreesniet and Treurniet, following the course of the covered road that once ran along the outer city wall.
As a result, the original outlines of Bredevoort’s fortifications are now clearly visible in the park. The park also offers a beautiful view across the open fields outside Bredevoort.
In 2023, a new access path was constructed, linking ’t Zand to Vestingpark Sint Bernardus. This project was made possible with financial support from the Municipality of Aalten, the Province of Gelderland, the European Union, and LEADER Achterhoek.
Thanks to this new access route, visitors can now easily enter the Vestingpark directly from the center of Bredevoort. The path runs to the right of De Heerlyckheid, through the former garden and into the park. Along part of the route, information panels provide historical insights about Bredevoort. With this new path, the historic town center and the Vestingpark are now truly connected.
