Top 20 Castles around Ense

Herdringen Castle The Herdringen manor was first documented in 1376. Until 1543, it belonged to the von Ketteler family, and thereafter to the von Westrem family. In 1618, the Prince-Bishop of Paderborn, Dietrich von Fürstenberg, purchased it and bequeathed it to his nephew. Since then, the estate has belonged to the Barons von Fürstenberg. The three-winged outer bailey was built between 1683 and 1723. The actual castle was built between 1844 and 1853 according to plans by Ernst Friedrich Zwirner. Zwirner, as an architect, also completed Cologne Cathedral. The castle chapel is therefore a reminder of this important building. One of the highlights of its almost 700-year history was the visit of the Prussian King Frederick William IV, who stayed at the castle in 1853. Even today, one of the halls bears the name "King's Hall." ...* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** *** *** *** *** After the occupation, the castle was leased to the Paderborn Diocesan Caritas Association from 1947 to 1968, and then to a private school operator until 1998. Since the turn of the millennium, the current owner, Baron Wennemar von Fürstenberg, has dedicated himself to the restoration of the property. For the past 20 years, the castle has served as an upscale event venue, hosting numerous weddings, concerts, conferences, and other events, all enjoying the exceptional ambiance of its beautiful historic rooms. Currently, the castle is only open by appointment. https://www.schloss-herdringen.de/

Haus Lohe, or Lohe Castle (Loe or Loh means "woodland," "small forest"), documented since 1281, originally belonged to the Cecilia Monastery in Cologne, which sold it to the knight Heinrich Wulf von Lüdinghausen in 1350. It remained in their possession until around 1700, then passed through marriage to the noble von Wrede family, and finally, in 1738, to the hereditary salt-making family von Papen. In two stages (1855 and 1885), they had the cathedral master builder of the Cologne Cathedral Workshop, Vincenz Statz, add a chapel and tower to a Baroque section and, by remodeling the entire complex, created a three-winged building in the Neo-Gothic style on an area of almost 700 square meters. Haus Lohe, with its ornamental former administrator's house and outbuildings, is located in the middle of a charming park-like area with ponds, moats, and lush trees. Today, it is owned by a private individual who had numerous apartments built in the castle. Several businesses and artists have set up shop in the outbuildings. https://www.westoennen.de/geschichte/rittergueter/

I don't understand why this should be a road bike highlight 🤔 The path by the game reserve is a bumpy path, more for hikers or MTB/Gravel.

An hereditary salt-making farm in excellent condition. I liked the half-timbered house of the former estate administration the most. It is privately owned, and small information boards in front of the buildings shed light on its history.

The English landscape park around the castle is beautiful to look at from the outside. With a bit of luck, you can also see the wildlife that lives there. You can only enter the park and the castle by appointment or during events. You can find more information at https://www.schloss-herdringen.de/.

Due to the limited space, the manor house was rebuilt in the English Tudor style in the 1840s. The plans for the new building came from cathedral master builder Ernst Friedrich Zwirner. The blue-reddish stone blocks come from the nearby Effenberg quarry. Stone from Menden and Herdecke was used for the cornices and windows. The stones for the foundation and interior walls came from the Sternhelle quarry. The new building is built as an elongated square with an open courtyard. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Berlin architect Ernst von Ihne carried out extensive interior renovations and redesign. In 1853, the then Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV visited the castle. In the 1960s, Herdringen Castle was the filming location and backdrop for the two Edgar Wallace films "The Black Abbot" and "The Forger of London". In 2008, the castle was used for filming the ZDF series "Krupp - A German Family". Today it is available as a venue for celebrations and company events. In addition, concerts are also held on the grounds. Fettes Brot, BAP, Roger Cicero, Die Fantastischen Vier and Atze Schröder have performed here, among others. The castle can only be visited by groups after prior registration. In 2022, the castle, together with its associated properties, was transferred to a cultural foundation. The castle is to be converted into a museum

The plane wreckage has now been cleared away. Measures are currently underway to make the castle and the art collection it houses accessible to the public.

You can drive onto the property from Füchtener Straße and there is a photo spot on the Ruhrtalradweg where you can photograph the Füchten house from a different perspective.