Raesfeld Castle is located in Raesfeld municipality in the district of Borken. It is located approximately 10 km south of Borken, 30 km east of the Dutch border, and 80 km north of the capital city Düsseldorf in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Raesfeld moated castle is Raesfeld landmark, and an impressive example of Renaissance architecture with a rich history dating back to the 12th century. The castle’s most striking feature is its impressive four-winged structure, which is surrounded by a moat and accessed via a drawbridge. The castle’s towers, battlements, and elaborate facades give it a distinctly medieval appearance despite its architecture’s mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Now it is owned by the handcraft organization of North Rhein-Westfalen and it is primarily used as a center for the teaching of crafts. In the 17th century, thanks to Alexander II von Velen castle was extended and remodeled in Renaissance style with the gardens. The extended and renovated castle became the center of a Raesfeld principality. Today gardens have been lost, but the wildlife park has been restored and is part of the European Garden Heritage Network.
All things considered, Raesfeld Castle is a magnificent and well-preserved example of Renaissance architecture, rich in heritage, and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. For anyone with an interest in history, art, or architecture, it is a must-visit location.
In 1166 the 1st mentioned owner of the castle was Rabodo von dem Berge, a nobleman from Lower Rhine. Rabodo von dem Berge probably build the church dedicated to St. Martin, around which the village of Raesfeld was born.
Grandson of the 1st lord Berge, Adam von dem Berge sold the castle in 1259 to Simon von Gemen. Simon was a knight who named himself “von Rasvelde”. His descendants lived here for 300 years.
In 1388/89, Dortmund enlisted many knights from the Münsterland, who helped defend the city in a siege. Among them was Bytter von Raesfeld with his sons and 25 men in arms. When he died in 1410, he left a castle for each of his four sons.
Another mentioned owner was cruel knight Johann von Raesfeld. Even his sovereign Bishop Otto von Müster called him a highwayman. In summer 1551, Johann von Raesfeld met his fate. He was killed by an iron bar that broke from the wall.
After Johan’s death, the wife remarried a nobleman from the Twente region (Netherlands) and moved with her son to Twickel Castle. The young Johan von Raesfeld is the heir to the Raesfeld castle, but Johan dies in 1559, and his stepfather occupies Raesfeld Castle before the news of the young heir’s death spread in Münsterland. However, the legal heirs of the castle after the death of young Johann is the von Velen family.
The lawsuit lasted for years and finally, the Reichs-kammergericht in Speyer (the highest court of the Holy Roman Empire) decided the case in favor of the von Velen Family. In 1595, Hermann von Velen divided his property among his sons and left Raesfeld to the youngest, Alexander von Velen. Alexander served as an ambassador for the Bishop of Münster and fought for the Emperor against Turks in Hungary and died in 1630.
Under the leadership of his son Alexander II, the castle underwent the most significant renovations with baroque gardens and a deer park. Alexander II was one of the great men of the Holy Roman Empire. He served as the Emperor’s ambassador and welcomed important visitors to the castle.
Alexander von Velen died in 1675. After his death, the von Velen family began to decline. Alexander was succeeded by Ferninand-Gottfried. One of Ferdinand’s sons Alexander-Otto governor of Limburg and field marshal in the Emperor’s army was the new owner of Raesfeld. In 1727 Alexander-Otto died and members of the family quarreled about his property. The castle is owned by his young brother Christoph-Otto, who died early. The year 1733 was fatal for the family, all the male lineage of the house of Velen zu Raesfeld became extinct.
In 1822 the baronet of Landsberg-Velen bought the castle and ground and turned it into a farm. Gardens and parks were turned into farmland. The dilapidated armory and the gateway with the drawbridge were pulled down. The Knight’s Hall has been converted into a granary. Instead of nobles, farmers from Poland stayed in the castle.
Chamber of handcrafts bought the castle in 1942. From 1942 onwards the castle served as a shelter, a school, and the main dressing station for the nearby Lower Rhine front line.
1950s the chamber of handcrafts embarked on repairs to restore the old splendor of the castle and begin educational programs for craftsmen.
Today the castle belongs to the handcrafts organization of North Rhein-Westphalen. The main building holds the “Academy of the Crafts (SMEs) Raesfeld Castle”, where specialists in the crafts are trained.
Alexander II of Velen (1599 – 1675), Baron of Raesfeld and Bretzenheim, was Imperial Field Marshal of the Catholic League in the Thirty Years’ War. After a distinguished military career, he had Raesfeld Castle expanded into a residential palace. In 1641 he was awarded the hereditary imperial count. He was later also referred to as the “Westphalian Wallenstein”.
“Westphalian Wallenstein” is referred to, Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Waldstein, a Bohemian general and politician. He is one of the most famous figures of the Thirty Years’ War.
Rabodo von dem Berge was listed as the castle's lord from 1168 and 1174. He was descended from a powerful nobility from the Montferland district of the Duchy of Geldern. The family most likely acquired the Raesfeld castle through the union of Rabod's father, also named Rabod, with a Gemen family daughter. Rabodo most likely ordered the construction of the St. Martin's Church, around which the village of Raesfeld was founded.
In 1259, Adam von dem Berge gave the Raboding-Hof castle to Symon von Gemen, a distant relative who had likely previously administered the fortress, along with the legal control and patronage rights over the local church. Then he introduced himself as Symon von Rasvelde, a knight from the von Gemen line.
The descendants of Simon von Raesfeld remained lords of the castle on Raesfeld for about 300 years.
At the end of the 16th century, Raesfeld Castle came into the possession of the von Velen family.
By the leadership of Alexander II von Velen, the castle was converted into a residential palace in the Renaissance style
Death of the von Velen von Raesfeld dynasty. The castle was inhabited only irregularly and gradually fell into disrepair.
Parts of the complex were destroyed or used as an agricultural estate around the start of the 19th century and lasted till the 20th century.
The castle now serves as the location of the Chambers of Crafts' institution for further education and training, as well as a restaurant and a venue for cultural events.
In 1658, during the reign of Alexander II von Velen, a court chapel was built.
In 1962 “leaden heart” was discovered. It was hidden in the vault below the choir. “Leaden heart” holds the heart of Christoph-Otto von Velen who died in Brussels in 1773.
Castle is owned by handcraft organization of Northrhein-Westfalen (Akademie des Handwerks Schloss Raesfeld), where specialists in the crafts are trained. It is possible to attend various seminars and courses. For more info visit the handcrafted website.
As the castle and the surrounding area look magical, a civil wedding can also be arranged. It is often possible to see married couples taking photo shooting around the castle.
At 1956, “Kulturkreis Schloss Raesfeld e.V” was founded. Cultural events like concerts and readings take place in knights’ hall.
Within the castle, there is an excellent restaurant with an outdoor terrace located right next to the water.
First, we express our gratitude to the kind gentleman from the photo who led us through the historical story of Raesfeld during the Second World War.
The Museum am Schloss is about 20 meters from the castle chapel. The museum exhibition is named “Raesfeld 1939 – 1945”, about the everyday life of the people in Raesfeld during WWII. The collection by the Heimatverein is the unique exhibit of its kind in Germany. It was assembled over decades.
The largest exhibit is the propeller of the Allied B-17 aircraft, better known as the Flying Fortress, which was destroyed in the war. The museum with its exhibits not only shows all the cruelty of the war but also the friendships that last to this day, between the relatives of the airplane crew and the local population.
The balustrade around the tower is a unique architecture. Alexander II von Velen watched and studied the stars and astrology from this place.
Hohe Mark Nature Park was founded in 1963 and with an area of almost 2000 square kilometers is one of the largest nature parks in North Rhine-Westphalia. Near Raesfeld Castle is one of the seven nature park tourist offices that provide information about the nature park and local tourism. The 2,000-square-kilometer nature park is characterized by a surprising variety of landscape forms. In the nature park, there are numerous bike and riding trails as well as more than a 3000 km long network of hiking trails.
In Erle part of the municipality of Raesfeld, there is possibly the oldest tree in Germany, 900 years old oak tree. In 2021, the Erler Femeiche is proclaimed a national heritage tree in North Rhine-Westphalia. From the Middle Ages, the oak was used as a court tree (feme court) for centuries, which meant that some criminals had to end their lives.
Below in the pictures you can see a sword and a gallows for hanging as an example of how it used to be done.
