The Orange Route in Siegen – in the Footsteps of the House of Nassau-Orange
Siegen is the birthplace of the House of Nassau-Orange and is closely linked to European history. Rupert, Count of Nassau, is regarded as the earliest ancestor of this noble family. Over several generations, the family expanded its holdings to include areas in the Taunus and Westerwald. In 1255, the brothers Otto I and Walram II divided the land, with the River Lahn serving as the boundary: Siegen, Dillenburg and Haiger fell to the Ottonian line, Limburg, Weilburg and Wiesbaden to the Walramian line. Through skilful inheritance and marriages, the Nassaus extended their influence to areas in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France. Numerous prominent figures emerged from the Ottonian line, which had its ancestral seat in Siegen. To this day, the House of Orange-Nassau reigns in the Netherlands as the direct successor to this line, meaning that the connection between Siegen and European history extends right up to the present day.
The starting point of the Oranier Route – known in Dutch as the ‘Oranjeroute’ – is the Upper Castle (see picture above), built around 1200 as a medieval hilltop fortress. After an eventful history, it became the residence of the Counts and Princes of Nassau-Siegen. Today it houses the Siegerland Museum, which features a significant collection of portraits of the House of Nassau-Oranien as well as ten original paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, who was born in Siegen in 1577.
One of the central figures in the history of the House of Orange is William I of Orange (1533–1584), known as ‘the Silent’. As the son of William the Rich, he led the Dutch struggle for freedom against Spanish rule and is still regarded today as the ‘Father of the Fatherland’ of the Netherlands. His family roots lie in the Nassau line, with its ancestral seat in Siegen. Also significant is Johann Moritz of Nassau-Siegen (1604–1679), known as ‘the Brazilian’. As Governor-General of the Dutch possessions in Brazil, he promoted science, culture and urban development, and had the Princely Crypt built in the Lower Castle in Siegen, which still commemorates the dynasty today.
The route also takes in significant religious and civic buildings:
- St Nicholas’ Church – hexagonal floor plan (hall-type hexagon), ‘Golden Crown’ on the spire, one of the city’s landmarks
- Jesuit Church of the Assumption – Baroque, a testament to Siegen’s religious history
- St Martin’s Church – the city’s oldest parish church with medieval origins
- Lower Castle – formerly the residence of the Protestant Nassau-Siegen line, now part of the University of Siegen
- Historic Town Hall – a symbol of the city’s development since the Middle Ages
Another special site associated with the Dutch struggle for freedom is Ginsburg Castle near Hilchenbach. It was here that William of Orange gathered his troops in 1568 and planned his campaign against Spanish rule. Ginsburg Castle is thus regarded as the symbolic starting point of the Dutch struggle for independence and directly links the Siegerland region with a decisive chapter in European history.
Today, the Ginsburg is not only a historical memorial site but also a vibrant destination for day trips: a café invites visitors to linger, events are held regularly, and the grounds are a popular destination for young and old alike, for walkers, families and active visitors in equal measure.
https://www.ginsburgcafe.de/
Would you like to find out more about Siegen’s fascinating history and its notable buildings?
Then join one of our informative and entertaining guided tours! Whether it’s themed tours, dramatised tours or a classic walking tour through the historic streets – history comes to life here.
You can find all the details and dates here:
https://visitsiegen.de/en/tourism/city-tours
Private group tours can also be arranged in Dutch. Enquiries to: hallo(at)visitsiegen.de