Top 15 Castles around the Ems

Haus Langen is a former knight's estate near the Ems. The ringwork fortification was built before the year 1000 and is one of the oldest fortresses with a surrounding moat as protection. Only the gatehouse remains of the complex. Directly opposite is a double mill.

Further information about Herzford Castle: https://www.emsland.com/urlaub/sehenswertes/details/schloss-herzford

The imposing moated castle is still inhabited by the Bentheim-Tecklenburg royal family today. It combines several architectural styles: a chapel tower from the 13th century, a Renaissance wing with a gallery and a Baroque wing. The important "White Hall" in the Rococo style, the wallpaper room and the small castle chapel with a prisoner's graffiti are among the sights worth seeing. Guided tours are offered regularly.

A beautiful forest area at the Wallburg Haskenau

The impressive Rheda Castle in Rheda-Wiedenbrück is located on the edge of eastern Münsterland. The castle is internationally known for its double chapel from the Staufer period and its valuable music library. But the picturesque castle garden also delights visitors. It was partially restored according to historical plans for the State Garden Show in 1988. The beautiful castle combines several architectural styles: a chapel tower from the 13th century, a Renaissance wing with a gallery and a Baroque wing. Also worth seeing are the important "White Hall" in the Rococo style, the Coach Museum, the Wallpaper Room and the castle chapel - an important example of late Romanesque architecture. Source: https://www.muensterland.com/tourismus/themen/erlebnis-region-muensterland/burgen-und-schloesser-im-muensterland/schloss-rheda/

The nature reserve "Alder Swamp and Castle Meadows Rheda" is located in the middle of the Rheda district and covers a total of 26 hectares. Due to its urban location, the protected area can be used by visitors at any time for a walk or a bike ride and is considered a local recreation area for young and old. The heart of the area is the Rheda moated castle, first mentioned in 1170. The landscape of the nature reserve is characterized by wet meadows and an alder swamp forest. Overall, there is a very high groundwater level, which is based on an artificial damming of the Ems and is, among other things, essential for the preservation of the castle, as the oak posts on which the castle was built must not come into contact with oxygen, otherwise they would rot. Instead of the wet forest that can be found now, the so-called bleaching meadows were in front of the castle in earlier times. Here, linen fabrics were washed in the water of the bleaching ditches and then laid out to dry on the nearby meadows until the desired color quality of the linen was achieved through the influence of sunlight. Source: https://biostationgt-bi.de/index.php?page=12&content=1399975046

The castle park is framed by the Ems, the Hirschwiese and the Roter Pfuhl (pond). The narrow path with the bridge leads through the Roter Pfuhl.

In 1570, the Freesenhuus (the transept) of today's Haneburg was built. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was rebuilt by Count Drosten Joest Hane. It was expanded to include the southern wing, which, like the castle at Gödens, was built in the Renaissance style. In 1671, the northern wing was expanded and used as a residential castle. After 1933, the building served as a National Socialist farmers' school. At the end of the 1970s, the district took over the castle and restored it to a gem of old architecture through a complete renovation. Today, the castle is the seat of the adult education center.