Sint Jozefdal and Eckart Castle
The “hof Eykart” was first mentioned in 1312, and in 1695 a castle was built by Jonkheer Carel van Vlierden. Next to the farmhouse were a coach house and an ice cellar.
The “hof Eykart” was first mentioned in 1312, and in 1695 a castle was built by Jonkheer Carel van Vlierden. Next to the farmhouse were a coach house and an ice cellar. There was a drawbridge in front of the gatehouse. In 1899, Eckart was sold to Theodoor Smits, the son of the mayor of Eindhoven. He built a new castle and laid out a park.
In 1937, Eckart Castle and its surrounding lands were sold to the Brothers of St. Norbert. It became a residential community for men with intellectual disabilities, known as Sint Jozefdal. In 1949, the Brothers of Charity took over Sint Jozefdal. Since the 1980s, care has been provided by various foundations. When you walk past the grounds, little remains of the former grandeur; it is mainly the pavilions that stand out. The castle is still present on the grounds.
This text has been translated using AI.