Paffendorf Castle

Bergheim, Germany

Paffendorf castle is one of the many castles and manors in the Erftniederung. Built in the 16th century, the complex is surrounded by moats and consists of the multi-winged, two-storey mansion and the formerly agricultural forecourt, which encloses a spacious farmyard at right angles. Two massive round towers, diagonally opposite, flank the main building. The outer bailey is bounded at the corners by massive towers, which with beveled pedestals reach down to the ditches then fed by Erftwasser.

In the middle of the 19th century, the castle received its neo-gothic appearance through a fundamental reconstruction. The buildings owe their battlements, turrets, balustrades and balconies as well as figurative jewelery. When in 1958 the progressive opencast mine Fortuna-Garsdorf reached the lands belonging to the castle, the then owner sold all the property to a predecessor company of RWE Power.

The castle includes a 7.5-hectare park. Extensive water surfaces and numerous distinctive single trees, among them old sequoias, gingko and giant life trees, characterize the picture. A forestry education gives an impression of the flora of the Tertiary. Descendants of primeval trees, shrubs and moorland plants from other parts of the world provide visitors with a literally living image of the Tertiary.

As a remnant of primeval flora, two 15 million year old sequoia stumps flank the entrance to the castle park. Their high natural content of tannic acid prevented the decomposition over millions of years, so that they could be found well preserved in an open pit.

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Details

Founded: 16th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Reformation & Wars of Religion (Germany)

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Chin Siew Ming (3 months ago)
A very interesting castle with a moat that you can visit during weekdays and weekends. There is a beer garden that also offers music events on selected Sundays. We were lucky to be there during one of these events.
Sarah Wieczorek (3 months ago)
Beautiful castle! Grounds behind the castle are lovely and peaceful.
E M (3 months ago)
I visited last year and it was a beautiful schloss with a moat and a lovely attached park. When I visited the cafe was closed and you are also not allowed to enter the building because it is used as an exhibition or event space so it’s closed to the public normally. We saw a very nice Nutria that really made the experience special. It was a nice quiet animal who grazes grass and swims!
Elena N. (4 months ago)
very nice hidden castle. easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. Free entrance
Yuliya Samuilionak (4 months ago)
A very nice place to visit. The castle is well-maintained, the park is nice to take a stroll in. There is a restaurant where you can have lunch/dinner/drinks at a decent price. Totally worth visiting.
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