Welcome to Grubbenvorst

The legend of the White Lady dates from the early
17th century, when the Ruined Castle had already been
completely destroyed (1586). A tower can be seen on the
photo that was burnt down by the Germans in 1945 as an
act of revenge on the White Lady, which, the story goes,
had caused one of their tanks to sink....

The legend of the White Lady

A tall, valiant young knight from a neighbouring land had, through his wayward behaviour, brought the retaliation of his country’s rulers on his head. They declared him an outlaw, so that he had to flee to save his skin. Chance or need brought him to the neighbourhood of the place known today as Grubbenvorst. The area seemed to his liking, and he sensed that he would find peace and safety here. Not surprisingly, at the first house he came to, where a juniper branch on a sign indicated an inn, he dismounted from his horse to ask for lodging. The landlady of the “Onder De Linden”, as the inn was called, was a pleasant lady. Even more pleasant, in the stranger’s eyes, was her pretty daughter. After a short while he conceived a sincere love for her. The girl seemed to return his feelings, which was no small comfort to him for the home and hearth he had had to leave.
Yet he was not always able to push his gloomy reflections aside, and on the long evening walks that he took to escape from them, he would often visit the ruins. When he came to them again one evening, he suddenly heard the sound of oars in the river. Curious to learn what the cause might be, he concealed himself nearby. Presently he saw two figures step out onto the moonlit bank. He heard a man’s voice saying the following words: “Why art thou so thick with the stranger here? Knowest thou not that I like it not?” To which a woman’s voice replied: “Thou needst not be jealous, ‘tis only to our advantage and.....” She never got any further, for with a cry the knight, who had recognised the voice of his beloved who had played him false, leapt out from his hiding-place. But before he could utter a word, the girl’s companion gave him a mighty blow on the head. He lost his balance and fell into a deep pit. In despair the two listened to the thud as he hit the ground. But still greater was their fright when they heard the following words: “Beware, faithless maiden! Never more shalt thou find peace!” The girl fled the place in terror. Soon afterwards, she fell sick, and died just three days later of a raging fever.

Ever since that time, at around midnight on moonlit nights the area around the Ruined Castle has been haunted by her restless spirit in the form of a white apparition.

We recently attempted to gain a sighting of her, but without success. It has to be admitted, though, that it was rather dark that night...