Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Netherlands Leiden Burcht van Leiden

Burcht van Leiden

This 11th-century castle sits so low you can't see it behind the surrounding buildings.

Leiden, Netherlands

Added By
CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  C messier/CC BY-SA 4.0
Gate leading to the burcht.   Jane023/cc by-sa 3.0
The interior.   C messier/CC BY-SA 4.0
View from the top of the burcht.   Michael A. Echteld/cc by-sa 4.0
Illustration of the burcht, 1698.   Frederik de Wit/Public domain
view from the stairs   jschrlmr / Atlas Obscura User
View on the hill  
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
View through the gate to church  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Mountains are the ideal place to build a castle, as the difficult access provides security while the elevation offers a good overview of the surrounding terrain. But where to place your defensive fortress if you are in the Netherlands, where most of the land is below sea level?

In the case of the Burcht van Leiden (Castle of Leiden), a shell keep built in the 11th century, the fortress sits on top of a 30-foot motte, or artificial hill, which was built up on a fork of the Rhine River. For about two centuries this fortress was the main defensive structure of the city and home to the burggraaf (viscount). Its thick tuff and brick walls rise about 20 feet high, making this citadel a particularly squat example of a European medieval castle.

Nearly 1,000 years later, the burcht is a well-known Leiden landmark, but notoriously hard to find. Many visitors today have a Disneyesque image in their heads, imagining a tall mountain with a gigantic castle on top of it, towering above the rest of the historical city. The reality couldn't be further from the truth.

In fact, the burcht can be very easily missed as it is concealed behind some relatively tall buildings that were built around it, making the castle impossible to spot from the ground unless you are standing right at the entrance. Many have walked right past it, leading them to believe the burcht is just an urban legend. But we can assure you that it is there. 

In the 13th century, the keep started to become antiquated as a defensive structure, though it still saw action when the Spanish unsuccessfully attempted to seize the city in 1574. In 1651, the city of Leiden purchased the keep and turned it into a public park for the people to enjoy. To this day it is a popular place for local residents to have picnics, enjoy the sun, and take in the lovely view of the city from the top of the castle. 

Related Tags

Fortresses Castles Medieval Architecture Archaeology Parks

Know Before You Go

Da Burcht (as it is locally known) is accessible free of charge from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Edited By

jschrlmr, Flaneuse

  • jschrlmr
  • Flaneuse

Published

March 29, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burcht_van_Leiden
  • http://www.leiden-toerisme.nl/zien-doen-beleven/bezienswaardigheden/burcht/
Burcht van Leiden
5 Van der Sterrepad
Leiden
Netherlands
52.158941, 4.492507
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Hidden Eschers of Leiden

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Hooglandse Kerk Clock

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Leiden's Floating Christmas Market

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Leiden

Leiden

Netherlands

Places 45
Stories 1

Nearby Places

The Hidden Eschers of Leiden

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Hooglandse Kerk Clock

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Leiden's Floating Christmas Market

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Leiden

Leiden

Netherlands

Places 45
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Malbork Castle

    Malbork, Poland

    Malbork Castle

    This 13th century Gothic brick castle is the largest in the world by surface area.

  • The Alcázar of Segovia, one of Spain’s greatest castles.

    Segovia, Spain

    Alcázar de Segovia

    This magnificent castle grew from a small Moorish fortress, and reportedly inspired two iconic Disney castles.

  • Scaligero Castle of Sirmione

    Sirmione, Italy

    Scaligero Castle

    One of the most well-preserved castles in Italy also contains a rare medieval example of a port fortification.

  • Roccascalegna, Italy

    Castle of Roccascalegna

    This precariously perched fortress was once ruled by a crow-worshipping baron.

  • Fortress of Bač

    Bač, Serbia

    Bač Fortress

    A well preserved medieval fortress in Vojvodina.

  • Gormaz, Spain

    Castle of Gormaz

    This Arab fortress was once the largest citadel in Western Europe.

  • Conwy Suspension Bridge

    Conwy, Wales

    Conwy Suspension Bridge

    One of the oldest suspension bridges in the world blends in perfectly with a medieval castle.

  • West Stow, England

    West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village

    This meticulously reconstructed early medieval settlement offers an immersive experience of daily life in an Anglo-Saxon community.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.