Nordkirchen Palace

Coesfeld, Germany

Schloss Nordkirchen was largely built between 1703 and 1734 and is known as the 'Versailles of Westphalia' since it is the largest of the fully or partly moated Wasserschlösser in that region. It was originally one of the residences of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster.

In the 18th century, the structure visible today was raised in several building campaigns for Friedrich Christian von Plettenberg zu Lenhausen and his successor. In 1959, the schloss was purchased by the State of Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Parts of the interior of the palace are open to the public, as are the parterres and the surrounding park. Inside, an up-market restaurant offering Westphalian cuisine looks out into the large formal garden that faces the northern façade. The chapel may be rented for weddings.

The schloss stands on a rectangular island surrounded by a broad moat-like canal. The island’s four corners are accentuated by four small free-standing pavilions.

The garden front gives onto a landscaped park of some 170 hectares, reached through a formal parterre of scrolling broderie on axis, flanked by expanses of lawn. The gardens and the surrounded woods are peopled with a multitude of lifesize marble statues, of which the first deliveries were made in 1721 by the Munich sculptor Johann Wilhelm Gröninger. Other sculptures were delivered by Panhoff and Charles Manskirch. Further sculptures were added during the restoration in neo-Baroque style, undertaken in 1903-07.

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Details

Founded: 1703-1734
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Germany
Historical period: Thirty Years War & Rise of Prussia (Germany)

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Ricardo Ribeiro (4 months ago)
A very beautiful castle with gardens and lake. Place has a restaurant and space for weddings and events.
Deepti Sharma (6 months ago)
Although it looks like a castle this is a school for the tax and finance management studies for that province... you get to roam around the outercircle and surrounding of this premises which has a huge park full of sculptures at its back side and a water body surrounding the castle which has ducks in it. You can only get inside if accompanied by a resident of the building otherwise it's a good walk around surrounding.
Simon Gättelin (6 months ago)
Nordkirche Castle can be reached in about 35 minutes from Münster by car. There is enough parking space. Nordkirchen Castle is a very large moated castle in the Baroque style, with a beautiful park and waterways. The castle is very popular for weddings and also for excursions. A small part of the interior can be visited with a guided tour. There is also a restaurant with a beautiful terrace.
Shahin Jamali (6 months ago)
really nice. worth the visit. the inside is real cheap (4€). do it if you like to know more about this place's history.
Anna Peters (6 months ago)
Beautiful grounds. We just missed the tour of the indoors as it was a spontaneous visit but it was still worth the trip. Gorgeous canals, tons of birds and lovely vegetation. We saw baby swans for the first time which were adorable.
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