GORINCHEM The Archaeological Working Group of the Municipality of Gorinchem is looking for the 15de century castle complex 'The Blue Tower', when the reinforcement of the historic city walls began at the end of 1999.
The Blue Tower was located between 1461, when construction of the castle began, until its demolition in 1578, approximately at the height of the Duveltjesgracht and the Tolhuis. Remains were still visible at this location until 1831.
Detailed study for a city plan, anonymous (1524−1578)
According to Martin Veen of the Archaeological Working Group, it is likely that parts of the Blue Tower will be exposed during the execution of the work on the ramparts. Veen, who finds it striking that no historical source research has been conducted into the history of the castle, believes that foundation remains are still in the ground. He hopes that during the rampart reinforcement it will be possible to "find out more about one of the greatest technical achievements of the medieval master builders in our country".
Veen recently conducted literature research on De Blauwe Toren. Based on this, he assumes that the castle had an older predecessor. The first was built by the Dutch count William VI, after he had conquered Gorinchem from the Arkels in 1412. He then had the Arkel castle in the Wijdschild demolished and started building a new castle on the Merwede.
Up until now it has been assumed that this castle of Willem VI and later of Jacoba van Beieren was located south of the current Revetsteeg and was part of the medieval city fortifications. But Veen doubts whether Willem VI built within the walls of a city hostile to him. He finds a more southern location at a safe distance from the city more obvious.
Charles the Bold
Almost fifty years later, in 1461, Charles the Bold began expanding the building, which was intended as a stronghold against his father Philip the Good, with whom he was at odds. Because father and son reconciled in 1465, the castle was only partially built. A striking part that was completed was a large tower made of blue limestone on the south-east corner, which was called the Blue Tower.
The historian Abraham Kemp gave in 1656 in his chronicle an extensive description of the Burgundian castle. He described among other things how Charles the Bold began to lay the foundations of "two large, mighty towers at the castle in Gorinchem, with a long hall around the Merwe (in my time still called the blue tower) the same in size, thickness and roundness of which towers were not found in all of Germany and France".
The building was a highlight of medieval fortification art and foundation engineering. It consisted of a very large bastion with exceptionally thick walls, clad on the outside with moisture-resistant blue limestone. Since it was situated on the river, the foundation must have been a feat, according to Martin Veen, for which Charles the Bold must have needed foreign advisors. It was an odd duck in the Dutch pond. Such a type of fortification only existed in Northern France.
Weak link
When the medieval fortress walls around the city centre had to be demolished at the end of the sixteenth century because they were no longer adequate, the Blue Tower also had to go. It was a weak link in the city's defences and no longer fitted into the plans of fortress designer Adriaan Anthonisz, who 'built' the still existing ramparts at the end of the sixteenth century.
The construction of the new fortress began in 1578 with the dismantling of the castle. Historian Kemp wrote about it: “This highly famous castle, these excellent towers, gates, walls, belts and other magnificent buildings were started to be demolished in 1578 and finally destroyed to the ground in 1600, having stood in its entirety for one hundred and seventeen years, from 1461 to 1576 and then in pieces until 1600. So that I have already seen several buildings there, as high as a man's height, above the ground.”
The later historian Van Goch reported that it was not until 1831 that the last pieces disappeared from view. These remains undoubtedly appealed to the imagination of the inhabitants and probably formed the basis for the local version of the 'Vrouwtje van Stavoren'. Every Gorcumer knows the story about the evil castle lady who, in times of famine, had the habit of scrubbing her inner courtyard with milk until God had had enough and, as punishment, had her disappear into the Duivelsgracht, castle and all.
June 23, 1998
The City of Gorinchem