Watchtower on the Goudsberg
Groenenweg, Valkenburg
Once on site, it becomes clear why a Roman watchtower once stood here. The view over the Geul Valley and the Via Belgica was not only beautiful but above all vital. At the time this watchtower was built, the Germanic tribes were at the doorstep.
It is only logical that many late-Roman structures had a military character. In the run-up to the fall of the Roman Empire, there must have been much fighting. From that period comes a whole series of watchtowers located along the Via Belgica. Here on the Goudsberg, one of them has been found.
Near the watchtower, the remains of a Roman villa were discovered. Now there is doubt: was this a military watchtower or a refuge tower for the inhabitants? The view from the tower is not directed toward the hostile east. Whatever its function, burnt remains show that the tower once went up in flames.
Bird’s-eye view
Take a bird’s-eye view over and inside the Goudsberg watchtower.
Virtual Reality
See below a few viewpoints of the 3D construction. Want more immersion? Experience the viewpoints in VR mode with a VR headset.
Discover
- View the Watchtower in virtual reality.
Fun to know
- Roman Architecture
- The Goudsberg Watchtower was built from Kunrader stone. This is a local limestone that the Romans were the first to use for construction. Before the Romans came to this region, houses were mainly built with wood and clay. The Romans built with cut stones, mortar (a precursor of concrete), and ceramic roof tiles. Thanks to their constructions and choice of materials, we still find remains 2,000 years later. The Watchtower on the Goudsberg, for example, had walls nearly one meter thick.