When you're in Kleve, you can't miss it. The castle / borough on top of the hill in the centre of the town. Dominating the view from all sides, this castle is already there from the 10th centure and belonged to the dukes and counts of Kleve. This dynastie claims to be descendants from the legendary "Swan-knight" (Elijas) Lohengrin (about whome Wagner wrote one of his famous opera's).
The story in short: Beatrix, a young lady of royal blood, is left behind after her father dies and leaves her with his ducy (Nijmegen and surroundings, among which Kleve). She has to defend it as many are attracted by this rich land but she doesn't know where to begin. Then at the river a swan, pulling a little boat, brings her a knight in shining armour that offers her his help. She falls in love with him and he agrees to merry her, but ... she never has to ask about his background (familyline). They merry and have three children, all boys (a profecy had told her this already and fortold that they would be victorious in every battle they fought (like their dad). 21 years long count Elijas and his family lead a prosporus time for Kleve, but then Beatrix asks her husband - for the sake of the children - to reveal his past. He disappears and has never been seen after.
On the top of the Swan-castle one sees a swan and the innercourt has a fountain, where a swan is towering over the bassins. From the tower one has a spectacular view over Kleve and surroundings, being almost 100 meters up above the Rhine valley.
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on May 31, 2003
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