Gemen Castle

Name: Gemen Castle
Address: Schlossplatz 1, Borken, Borken, 46325, Deutschland
Telephone: +49 (0) 02861 9 22 00

Schlossplatz 1, 46325 Borken

historical building Tourist attractions – various Fortress/Castle

Youth Castle Gemen

One of the most unusual castles in the Münsterland is Wasserburg Gemen. Built over 900 years ago, it now stands on two islands in the former marshy area of the Bocholter Aa. The castle complex is enclosed by a mighty moat - the so-called Gräfte. Since 1946, Gemen Castle has been run by the Diocese of Münster as a youth education centre under the name "Jugendburg Gemen".

History information

Today's castle developed from a 900-year-old moated castle and stands on two islands enclosed by a mighty system of moats. Contrary to what the name suggests, the complex is now a castle.

Gemen Castle was once built by the noble lords of Gemen, one of the most important noble families in Westphalia. The castle grew over the centuries: the oldest part, the keep, dates back in part to 1280, when the castle was expanded into a ring castle. The outer walls of the castle were considerably extended in the 14th century. The castle reached its present size in the 15th century when, among other things, the manor house was built in 1411 - a three-storey palace with a large hall and vaulted cellar. The Gothic appearance of the castle was enhanced in the 16th and 17th centuries by some Baroque nuances, which can still be seen today in the building decoration and some of the portals. In 1692, the castle was covered with coloured plaster, giving it its yellow robe. As a baroque element, the baroque St. Mary's Church in the Freiheit was also added in 1708.

Since the 12th century, the history of the castle has been marked by constant disputes between the Lords of Gemen and the Prince-Bishops of Münster. The owners of the castle maintained their immediacy with the empire by successfully changing alliances again and again. In 1822, Imperial Baron Johann Ignatz Franz von Landsberg-Velen bought the castle, which is still owned by the von Landsberg-Velen and Gemen family today. Since 1946, the Diocese of Münster has leased Gemen Castle and uses it as a youth education centre with a special focus on musical education.

Tour information

Gemen Castle cannot be visited from the inside.
However, the exterior is freely accessible. A walkway circles the entire structure and offers very beautiful different perspectives.

Map

Gemen Castle

Schlossplatz 1, 46325 Borken

www.jugendburg-gemen.de/

jb-gemen@bistum-muenster.de

+49 (0) 02861 9 22 00

Ansprechpartner:

Jugendburg Gemen - Jugendbildungsstätte des Bistums Münster

www.jugendburg-gemen.de/

jb-gemen@bistum-muenster.de

+49 (0) 02861 9 22 00

Website

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Details

Further Informations

Information for cyclists
Borken is a wonderful travel or excursion destination especially for cyclists, because the flat cycle paths lead in all directions around Borken. Numerous cycle paths are waiting to be ridden. There is a lot to discover on them, whether on old smugglers' paths towards the Dutch border or on a cycle tour on one of the theme routes.
Numerous cycling theme routes offer interesting cycling tours through Münsterland. The signposted cycling theme routes each show very specific contents of the region and thus tell exciting stories about Münsterland. Gemen Castle is also connected to various themed cycle routes:
100 Castles Route, West Course
Flamingo Route
Hohe Mark Nature Park Route
The entrance to the Münsterland cycle route network, which is around 4,500 kilometres long, is directly at Gemen Castle and offers numerous opportunities for great cycle tours in the region. The next junction with the number 74 is the starting point for this.

Price Info

Admission prices
no entry possible: 0 €

Direction

Journey to Gemen Castle
By car:
Gemen Castle is located in Borken in the western Münsterland. Arrival by car is via the A31 (Oberhausen-Emden | Borken exit, journey time approx. 15 minutes) or the A3 (Cologne-Arnheim | Hamminkeln exit, journey time approx. 30 minutes).
By bus/train:
Borken is the terminus of the RE14 Essen-Bottrop-Dorsten-Borken railway line. The journey time from Essen main station is approx. 1 hour. Borken railway station is about 2.5 kilometres from Gemen Castle.
At Borken station, take bus R51, get off at the "Evangelische Johanneskirche" stop.
Parking at Gemen Castle
Parking is not permitted on the castle grounds! Several public, free parking spaces are located near Freiheit Gemen on "Coesfelder Straße" and on "Cordulastraße".