Kronenburgertoren
The 30-meter-high brick powder tower was once part of the second medieval city wall and is now the only remnant of the ramparts. It is an exceptionally well-preserved example of medieval military architecture. The monument stands in the Kronenburgerpark in Nijmegen. This eye catcher combined with greenery and water, give the city park a nice atmosphere for a walk or a picnic. The tower now houses the Grandmother's Kitchen Museum.
Location
Nijmegen
Year built
1425
Building Style
Romanesque
Original function
Kruittoren
Special feature
Only remnant of 15th and 16th century ramparts
Owned by Monumentenbezit
Since 2016
Wheelchair accessible
No
Visitor information
The Kronenburg Tower houses the Grandmother's Kitchen Museum with a unique collection of antique kitchen utensils from grandmother's kitchen days.
Visiting address:
Parkweg 11, 6511 BE Nijmegen
The Kronenburger or Kruittoren, located in the Kronenburgerpark in the centre of Nijmegen, dates from 1425. The Kronenburgertoren consists of two sections, each with a battlement with battlements, cantilevered on a brick arch frieze. Of the four rooms in the tower, one above the other, the lower two carry brick dome vaults. All rooms are equipped with guns and gun ports. The gargoyles on the lower and upper floors are made of bluestone.
The 30-metre high brick gun tower was part of the second medieval city wall. As the name suggests, gunpowder was stored in part of the tower. The tower was originally built as a corner tower. Later, the city wall was extended to the south in the direction of the further roundel, the Roomse Voet. The tower was then no longer a corner tower, but a wall tower.
With the introduction of the cannon in the 15th century, high towers in the city wall gradually lost their value, because they proved vulnerable to bombardment and could quickly collapse. Many of these towers were therefore demolished from the late Middle Ages onwards. It is therefore all the more special that the Kronenburgertoren has been preserved.
The existing city walls were no longer strong enough to hold back enemies at the beginning of the 15th century. That is why the city decided to double a large part of the land side of the wall, between the Burchtpoort Hezelpoort and the Waal, around 1425. This construction phase continued until 1591 and the Kronenburgertoren was also built during this phase. In the same year, Prince Maurits van Oranje incorporated Nijmegen into the Republic of the United Netherlands. Nijmegen was given a function in the eastern defence line and became a fortified city with a large garrison of the Dutch army within the walls.
Fortification engineer Adriaen Anthonisz. was commissioned to provide Nijmegen with new fortifications. The costs for the maintenance and restoration of the old medieval city wall were borne by the city of Nijmegen. Due to the high costs, this city wall was in a deplorable state.
Extensive improvements followed in 1700-'02, according to plans by Menno van Coehoorn, and in 1726-'32 and 1748. In the 19th century, several forts were built around the city. Until the Fortification Act was passed on 18 April 1874. Nijmegen was abolished as a fortified city. As a result, the fortifications were sold to the municipality of Nijmegen. The 15th and 16th century ramparts were demolished around 1880, with the exception of the tower. This was spared because of its status as an exceptionally well-preserved example of medieval military architecture. At the tower, remains of the former wall can also be seen, of two internally modernised ramparts and a fragment of the so-called 'Uitvalstorentje van Arndt Viegen'.
From 1880 onwards, a landscape park was created at the foot of the Kronenburgertoren, designed by the Leuven garden architect Liévin Rosseels. Rosseels also added elements such as an extensive pond, winding paths and varied planting.
After Nijmegen lost its status as a fortified city, plans were made to expand the city. In 1880, the Utrecht garden architect Hendrik Copijn presented a design for a city park west of the old city centre, in which the entire city wall would be demolished. However, this proposal was not approved… Then the Leuven garden and landscape architect Leopold Rosseels came up with a new design, which was approved.
From 1880 onwards, a landscape park was laid out at the foot of the Kronenburgertoren, designed by the Leuven garden architect Liévin Rosseels, the brother of the late Leopolad. Liévin Rosseels also added elements such as an extensive pond, winding paths and varied planting. He was advised by architect Pierre Cuypers, who led the restoration of the Kronenburgertoren from 1878 to 1883 and played a crucial role in the decision to retain the city wall and incorporate it into the park design. The former defensive moat was transformed into a pond.