Vianen's town centre is surrounded by a straight outer wall, on which there is still an old cannon with bullets. Within these walls, near today's Hofplein, was Batestein Castle, once one of the most beautiful castles in the Netherlands, which was quite large. It was founded by Gijsbert van Beusichem, lord of Vianen. In 1414, his granddaughter Johanna van Vianen married lord Walraven l of Brederode. Thereafter, the castle passed into the hands of the Brederodes.