House Donk

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House Donk
House Donk

House Donk

Creation time : 13th Century
Castle type : Moated castle
Conservation status: reconstructed
Standing position : Lehnsburg
Place: Tönisvorst
Geographical location 51 ° 17 '39 "  N , 6 ° 25' 34"  E Coordinates: 51 ° 17 '39 "  N , 6 ° 25' 34"  E

Haus Donk is a small former moated castle in Tönisvorst , part of Vorst in the district of Viersen . The name Donk is a term for a buildable, elevated place in a swamp area.

The beginnings of the Donk family, for a long time an electoral fief in Cologne , go back to 1259. The right half-timbered tower was originally built by the Franks around 900 AD on an artificially created hill, a moth . It served as a defensive facility in case of threat from enemies. Daily life took place in the outer bailey, the farm in front, which was also secured with a moat that is still recognizable today. In the following centuries further additions were made, including a renaissance tower built around 1550. The manor house visible today is only part of the old manor house, which is about three times larger. The former moated castle was considered to be the border fortification of the Electoral Cologne office of Kempen against the duchies of Jülich and Geldern .

The castle was destroyed in the 19th century and rebuilt in the 1970s. At the beginning of the 1990s Haus Donk was acquired by the entrepreneur Rod Hützen, completely restored and expanded to include an underground wing and various additions on the south side. The lattice tower received a new slate roof with four dormers. After the two-year renovation phase, the property served as the home of the owners. After the family moved abroad in the early 2000s, Haus Donk was used for events and company events. The registry office Tönisvorst used u. a. the knight's hall for civil marriages. After that, the owners decided to rent it permanently.

That was how House Donk u. a. from 2004 to 2007 the residence of the US national soccer goalkeeper Kasey Keller , who played for the Borussia Mönchengladbach team.

Further extensive renovations have been taking place since February 2020 and will be completed in early 2021.

House Donk south side

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