Medieval castles in North Rhine-Westphalia
Langendorf Castle
Once two-part Langendorf Castle was built in the 12th and 13th centuries as main and fore-castle surrounded by a moat. The round corner-tower of the late-gothic manor house dates back to the 15th century, as does the oldest part of the manor house. The more recent part of the manor house includes the chapel bay window and the courtrooms. The fore-castle with three wings was renovated in the 16th century, of which only the ...
Founded: 12th century |
Location:
Zülpich, Germany
Münchhausen Castle
Münchhausen Castle was mentioned already in 893 AD when it was owned by the Abbey of Prüm in Lorraine. Later the castle was used as a customs office. The 12th and 13th century walls, tower and some buildings have survived. Today the castle is a horse farm with restaurant.
Founded: 9th century |
Location:
Wachtberg, Germany
Hambach Castle
Hambach Castle was originally built in 1280 by Walram von Jülich, but it was burned down due gunpowder explosion in 1512. It was restored as a Renaissance style hunting palace in 1558-1565. The castle was confiscated by French army in 1794 and they torn down the northern tower. The castle was also damaged during the Second World War. Today it is in residential use.
Founded: 1280 |
Location:
Niederzier, Germany
Kleinvernich & Großvernich Castles
The two castles of Kleinvernich and Großvernich have guarded the eastern and western banks of the river Erft since 1350. The two-part Grossvernich Castle, known as a 'castrum' with a moat, was built after 1300 near the surrounding wall, which today is hardly discernible. Kleinvernich Castle is still entirely surrounded by a moat today. However, the estate is used exclusively for agriculture. The only memorial ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Weilerswist, Germany
Juntersdorf Castle
In the 14th / 15th centuries the formerly two-part gothic Juntersdorf Castle was built on an incline and protected by a moat. The fore-castle was connected to the manor house, after it had been reconstructed following a fire in the 19th century, so that the buildings almost form a closed complex. Parts of the manor house date back to the 17th century.
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Zülpich, Germany
Lüftelberg Castle
Burg Lüftelberg is first mentioned in old documents in 1260. In the 15th century it was extended into a castle with four round towers and surrounded by a moat. The castle obtained its current appearance as of 1730. The court architect Johann Heinrich Roth constructed a Baroque building with high double pitched roofs and a beautiful portal, but used the available walls and integrated three of the four older round tower ...
Founded: 15th century |
Location:
Meckenheim-Lüftelberg, Germany
Großbüllesheim Castle
Großbüllesheim Castle was first mentioned in records in 1402, in the fiefdom of the Duke of Jülich, enfeoffed to Reymer Spies von Büllesheim, whose descendants still flourish today as the Barons Spies von Büllesheim. Büllesheim castle was originally built in two parts next to a weir, as a knight's country seat. Of this only the gate-tower of the residential house remains, built onto the fore-castle. The fore-castle ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Euskirchen, Germany
Kessenich Castle
The two-part Kessenich Castle on the Erft river, which fed its moat, was first mentioned in records of the early 14th century. In 1339 the castle was registered in the fiefdom of the Margrave of Jülich. In the centuries up to 1828 the castle only belonged to the Jülich aristocracy for a short time. The Lords of Binsfeld owned and lived in the castle until 1604, when ownership was transferred via marriage to the aristocr ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Euskirchen, Germany
Bodenheim Castle
The castle at Bodenheim is the only preserved family seat of the former Brabant landowners of Lommersum, which was still a fiefdom in the late 18th century. On the estate there is clear evidence of the original medieval two-part castle with a moat. The picturesque manor house, with its many corners and angles, stands on an artificial mound and the moat has been dry for decades. The oldest preserved part is the west wing, ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Weilerswist, Germany
Lauvenburg Castle
Lauvenburg castle is a typical medieval castle, surrounded by water and in very good condition. The castle is situated on the outskirts of the village and appears very romantic with its old stock of trees. The moats of the two-part castle are still fed via the medieval mill-race, which was diverted from the Rotbach stream. The fore-castle was reconstructed in new-gothic style after a fire in 1868. Behind a yard with a wa ...
Founded: 14th century |
Location:
Zülpich, Germany