Zievel Castle, Mechernich, Germany

When one sees Zievel Castle today, it is exactly as one would imagine a medieval knight's castle to look like. Unlike other local castles, the village of Zievel is not connected to the castle which protected it. The staff who served the noble families usually lived nearby, but here the castle stands in the middle of the landscape.

Zievel Castle is not only much older than other local stately homes and was not only a fiefdom, but also the country seat of high nobility. The very extensive estate used to be surrounded by a moat and separated into a fore-castle and main castle. The ground plan of the castle conforms to the construction carried out by the knight Schmeich von Lissingen.

Some alterations to the building were made during the 15th century, for instance the construction of the twin-tower gate. In 1825 the manor house, dating back to the 15th century, was replaced by the present baroque-style house. The castle was first mentioned in records in 1107, when it was the free property of the Earl of Limburg. In 1377, through the aristocrats von Daun, the Zievel estate, together with the villages of Lessenich and Rissdorf, passed into the hands of the knight Schmeich von Lissingen, who built the castle which is recognizable today. The 15th century saw a new change of owner, when the castle became the main residence of Baron Metternich from Metternich. When that lineage died out in the mid-17th century, the heirs divided the estate and erected a second manor house in 1661. In 1766 the castle was leased to the Krewel family, who then bought the property in 1820 and remain the owners today.

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Kreis Euskirchen

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Sontowski Fritz (3 years ago)
All private property, no footpath or bike path to the castle and not easily visible from close up. No recommendation.

Jan Willem Coenen (3 years ago)
Very nice restaurant. And excellent food

Helmut Kruth (4 years ago)
The restaurant can be recommended with a clear conscience. Kudos to the kitchen and the restaurant staff.

Wolfgang Heinisch (4 years ago)
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Dinos Zannikos (6 years ago)
Peaceful place, good Beer, much golf

Zievel Castle

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Church of St Donatus