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Elfstatentocht Country Estate Route - II

Limited access

(49.2 km)

Discover some of Friesland’s finest country houses, nobility residences and beautifully landscaped estates. In Friesland, these country estates are known as 'staten' and 'stinzen'.

The Elfstatentocht Country Estate Route takes you on a tour of the cultural and historical highlights of Friesland!

Feel like royalty, as you lunch, dine and stay at some of the most spectacular places in Friesland.

This second section of the Elfstatentocht Country Estate Route takes you through the city of Franeker and to some of the country estates east of the former university town.

This section starts with a stroll through the streets of Franeker, a monumental city that was once home to scholars such as René Descartes. You can immerse yourself in the history of Franeker at Museum Martena, the city museum at the Martenastins city castle. If you want, you can also spend a night in this quiet town.

Then cycle off to see the castle estates near the rural villages of Dronrijp, Marsum and Bears. All of the villages you pass along the way have beautiful churches that contain funerary hatchments of members of the nobility who lived in the area.

Go on a trip that takes you to inspiring places in the lush green landscape of Friesland.

Sights on this route

Starting point:

Voorstraat 82
8801 LE Franeker

Franeker (Frjentsjer)

The Elfsteden city Franeker is a captivating town with its rich university history. For many years, this city was home to numerous students, including well-known names such as Descartes.

Bed and Breakfast dekemahuis

You will find this attractive Bed and Breakfast in the middle of the historic city center of Franeker.

Museum Martena

At Museum Martena, the past comes to life. Step into the lives of former residents, well-known people from Franeker, learned women such as Anna Maria van Schurman and the historic University of Franeker. You are invited to look, touch, smell, listen and even taste.

Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium

On the ceiling of the living room of a beautiful canal house in Franeker you’ll find a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest working planetarium in the world.

Dronryp (Dronrijp)

The largest village in the municipality of Waadhoeke, rich in history. The birthplace of, among others, Eise Jeltes Eisinga, a famous amateur astronomer, patriot, and builder of the Eise Eisinga Planetarium. In addition to cultural heritage, it is bustling with events.

Statue Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema

The statue of the famous painter Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema stands in front of his birthplace in the center of Dronryp.

Poptaslot of Heringastate

Poptaslot, the jewel among the Frisian Stinzen, called, to the last States and occupant, the wealthy lawyer Dr. Henricus Popta. From his death in 1712 the estate with gardens, canals and ports increasingly managed by 4 guardians. The decor is still m...

Uniastate en Tsjerke Bears

On the grounds of the Cultuur-Historisch Centrum Uniastate, there is a 13th century church with an ornate interior and a beautiful wood-carved pulpit. The unique replica/mirage of the old State (country estate) is also on the property.