House Spirit

Haus Geist is a moated castle in the style of the Lippe Renaissance and Baroque, the first moated castle in this style in Münsterland: a four-winged complex with corner towers and rich in typical brick façade decoration, which today can only be guessed at on the foundation walls and the gate due to baroqueisation. Today, Haus Geist is owned by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and cannot be visited, but can be viewed from the outside.

• It is not possible to visit the interior.
• A view from the wayside offers magnificent views of the historic building.

Haus Geist is a moated castle in the style of the Lippe Renaissance and Baroque. The master builder of the Renaissance building was Laurenz von Brachum, famous Renaissance architect and builder of similarly beautiful houses such as Hovestadt Castle, Overhagen Castle or Assen House. He received the commission in 1560 through Franz van Loë - the sixth documented owner of Haus Geist. With Haus Geist he created the first moated castle in this style in the Münsterland: a four-winged complex with corner towers and rich in typical brick façade decoration, which today, due to Baroqueisation, can only be guessed at on the foundation walls and the gate. The old granary is the last witness to the magnificent building. In 1640, the house was transferred by will to the Jesuit order. They had the estate rebuilt with all the baroque conveniences and advantages. Through skilful cultivation of the surrounding fields, the order was also instrumental in building up the "ghost wood" - the forest around the estate that still exists today. After the house became the property of the state with secularisation, it was leased out from 1860. In the first decades of the Federal Republic of Germany, the first Federal Presidents had hunts organised here for the diplomatic corps.

Today Haus Geist is owned by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and is a family retreat. It cannot be visited and would like to be enjoyed at a distance. In addition to maintaining the grounds, the Haus Geist family devotes special attention to agriculture here. The grain harvested here is the basis for the horse muesli produced on the farm, which is marketed regionally.