Borg (castle)

A borg is a former stronghold or villa in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands. Borgs used to belong to noblemen or prominent citizens and were used for a place of safety during war.

Structure

A borg usually started as a brick building (a 'steenhuis'), built in the 13th or 14th century. A steenhuis was usually 11 meters long and 8 meters wide. The walls were built thick, with many being more than 1 meter wide.

Remains

Most borgs were demolished in the 19th century, when maintenance became too expensive. Several surviving borgs are now used as museums.

Borgs

References

• List of castles in the Netherlands
• http://www.borgeningroningen.nl/ (Dutch)