Wisch Castle is an imposing building with a striking L shape which particularly reflects its history of division and reunification. The castle was home to the Wisch family, who were part of the most powerful nobility in the county. It is still privately owned and was recently completely restored.
The lords of Wisch belonged to the four bannerets, the most powerful nobility in the County of Zutphen. The predecessor of Wisch Castle probably dates from the 11th century and was built three kilometres away on the other side of the Old IJssel river. All traces of that castle have disappeared.
In the 13th century, Dirk I of Wisch built a new castle on the current site. The area around the castle was called Hof ter Borg (courtyard near the castle) and it was here that the small town of Terborg emerged. Johan, Dirk’s youngest son, moved into the castle around 1285.
Two cousins inherited the estate around 1400. They each had their own house, separated by a canal. It was not until 1644 that the houses were reunited. That probably explains the castle’s elongated L shape. The oldest part of the castle is the round tower dating from the 15th century. This is also the transition point between the main 16th-century building and the elongated service wing from the 17th century. There is still a square tower at the end of the service wing.
During the Second World War the allies suspected that the German General Von Rundstedt had his headquarters in the castle. It was bombed twice in October 1944, causing immense damage. Restoration work on the house began after the war. The main building and the two towers were leased to Geldersche Kasteelen so that they could also be restored. Wisch Castle and the estate are still privately owned and therefore not open to the public.
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