Herbertus Forests
Herbertus Forests is the name of an ancient woodland with tall deciduous and coniferous trees near Heeze Castle, east of the village. It connects to the Strabrechtse Heath and the Lange Bleek estate near Sterksel.
Location: west of Heeze
Notable: Kingfisher breeds here in tree roots
In front of the castle lie ‘De Waarden’, meadows wetter than wet. In the full ditches, you can almost always see a heron fishing. And recently, orchids have started to grow again. The estate forest behind the castle has many old trees. The hollows in the beeches, oaks, and Scots pines are popular with cavity-nesting species: tawny owl, nuthatch, black woodpecker, and bats.
Watching kingfishers around a castle
The area is called Herbertus Forests, not Hubertus – a common mistake. They are named after Herbertus, the first lord of “Heeze, Leende and Zesgehuchten.” In its current state, the castle dates from 1670. Standing in front of the imposing building, you must realize that it was originally intended only as a “front building” for an even grander residence. From the outside, it is modest in style (Renaissance), but those who visit the interior by appointment are impressed by its luxury.
In the fo…
Location: west of Heeze
Notable: Kingfisher breeds here in tree roots
In front of the castle lie ‘De Waarden’, meadows wetter than wet. In the full ditches, you can almost always see a heron fishing. And recently, orchids have started to grow again. The estate forest behind the castle has many old trees. The hollows in the beeches, oaks, and Scots pines are popular with cavity-nesting species: tawny owl, nuthatch, black woodpecker, and bats.
Watching kingfishers around a castle
The area is called Herbertus Forests, not Hubertus – a common mistake. They are named after Herbertus, the first lord of “Heeze, Leende and Zesgehuchten.” In its current state, the castle dates from 1670. Standing in front of the imposing building, you must realize that it was originally intended only as a “front building” for an even grander residence. From the outside, it is modest in style (Renaissance), but those who visit the interior by appointment are impressed by its luxury.
In the forest, the Sterkselsche Aa flows freely. This strongly meandering stream erodes its banks, causing trees to fall. The kingfisher benefits from this, as the exposed banks provide ideal nesting spots every year.
Reasons to visit Herbertus Forests
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A mix of nature and culture
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Perfect for a long family walk
Facilities
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Parking at Boschlaan
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Just a stone’s throw from the center of Heeze, with restaurants and shops
General
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Area: 628 hectares
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Due to a historical cartographic error, the name Hubertus Forests is sometimes used as well
This text has been translated using AI.