In a deep, thickly wooded valley, the River Bosna turns abruptly almost 180 degrees creating a sharp ridge on which this little 15th-century Vranduk castle sits in the midst of a tiny, charmingly coherent village. Vranduk represents one of many medieval Bosnian towns with intensive political, economic and cultural life. The castle is composed of a citadel with the main tower and a protective wall, surrounding the interior of the medieval town.
After taking the city in the 15th century, the Turks built a mosque alongside to the citadel. During Eugene of Savoy’s devastating campaign in 1697, he bypassed the fortress completely as it posed too great an undertaking, leaving it the only fortification left unconquered. Today, Vranduk offers visitors an authentic taste of Bosnian history, in both the museum set up in the great tower, and the traditional Bosnian meals.
Kakesbeck is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Münsterland and the oldest castle in Lüdinghausen. The imposingly grown complex originated in 1120 as a motte, a small hilltop tower castle. After numerous changes of ownership, the castle was extended onto two islands, but it was not until the 14th century that it underwent significant alterations and extensions under the von Oer family. The estate experienced its heyday in the middle of the 18th century, when it covered an area of almost one square kilometre and consisted of five further outer castles in addition to the core castle, which were secured by ramparts and moats.
The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.