Harkotten von Ketteler Castle

The baroque Harkotten von Ketteler Castle, together with the adjacent Harkotten von Korff manor house, forms a rare double castle complex. Originally, a mighty moated castle of the von Korff family stood on the site of today's double castle. Through succession and marriage, part of the property passed to the von Ketteler family in 1615, who built today's Baroque castle in the following century.

Unlike the adjacent manor house, Harkotten von Ketteler Castle cannot be visited and can only be seen from a distance by looking out over the moats.

Schloss Harkotten von Ketteler is still privately owned today. The grounds have been leased to a design company, so that a view of the building is onlypossible via the moat or through the closed gate. over the moat or through the closed gate. More information on the double castle is available in the adjacent manor house.

In 1308, the knight Henricus II built a massive castle on what is now the site of the double castle of Harkotten. The "Horekotten" had two wings and an imposing middle section. The fortified castle was surrounded by water arms of the Bever and numerous swamps. Thus, the castle was considered impregnable at that time. In 1334, the entire castle complex, as well as the forests and corridors, were divided between two brothers. For centuries, the castle was owned by two families until 1755, when the von Kettler family had the eastern wing demolished. Johann Gröninger then built a representative Baroque castle there. In 1804, the demolition of the western wing was followed by the construction of a new classicist manor house by the architect Adolf Vagedes. The imposing double castle complex is still owned by the von Ketteler and von Korff families.

Today, Ketteler Castle is still privately owned, but has been leased to a design firm. Therefore, this part of the double castle complex can only be enjoyed via the moat or through the closed gate.