Myllendonk Castle

The Myllendonk Castle is a moated castle , which in Korschenbroich (district Herrenshoff of) just east Niers near the town border with Moenchengladbach is located.

Owners and residents

The lords of Myllendonk, traceable since 1166, had an important position among the noble families of the Lower Rhine, which manifested itself in extensive possessions. The most famous son of the family is the Benedictine abbot and later Cistercian monk Caesarius von Milendonk . His sister Irmintrudis von Mylendonk was abbess of the Benedictine convent Dietkirchen (Bonn).

When the family died out at the end of the 13th century, Myllendonk came to the Lords of Salm-Reifferscheid and around 1346 to von Mirlaer by marriage . The latter later named themselves after their new headquarters in Myllendonk.

From 1621 the castle was owned by counts and ducals, which changed several times, most recently to that of the Counts of Ostein . 1700 gained by the end of the 13th century independent dominion Myllendonk their Reichsunmittelbarkeit back.

In 1794 the region was occupied by French revolutionary troops ( First Coalition War ). In 1803, Franz Gottfried von Maercken bought the complex, which in 1832 passed through his niece to the von Wüllenweber family, who have lived and tended the castle ever since.

Building history

Myllendonk Castle around 1860, Alexander Duncker collection

The location of the Myllendonk rule on a historical school atlas from 1905 (green, northeast of the Wickrath rule)

Directly on the east bank of the straightened Niers lies the extensive complex, surrounded by moats and divided into several subdivisions. It is accessed from the driveway in the east. About three bridges can be reached from the outer Vorburg to the inner forecastle that the 1263/64 Cologne archbishop Engelbert I. to Lehen was applied, and finally into the main castle . Between this and the western outer moat there is a fourth castle island that served as a kitchen garden.

Myllendonk, which was built on stilts in the Niersaue, impresses with its tall brick buildings that tower above the tree-lined landscape. The nested silhouette of the castle corresponds to the picturesque, romantic image of a defiant moated castle.

A coat of arms stone dated 1559, which was moved to the renewed courtyard front of the west tower in 1856, indicates renovations and extensions. It may have come from the newly built east wing, which also spanned the driveway.

As in 1591 parts of the Gothic palace collapsed, the courtyard facade has been completely renovated and with a decorative Renaissance - loggia equipped. All roofs and the lantern-topped tower domes also date from the last decade of the 16th century . According to the dating of a wall anchor , the six-storey north-east tower and the east facade of the side wing were redesigned into a baroque front in 1630 .

The newly created splendor, which was rounded off by a baroque terrace garden with a small pavilion , did not last long. In 1642 the castle was damaged in armed conflicts and in 1655 and 1671 it was occupied by Spanish - Geldrischen troops, which were supposed to prevent the desired separation from the feudal association. In this context, the arcade was walled up and the southern part of the east wing including the gateway was demolished in the middle of the 18th century.

Todays use

Castle and gate construction

Today there is an 18-hole championship golf course on the area belonging to the castle . The facility is operated by the Myllendonk Golf Club. The club was founded in 1965 with nine holes and expanded to 18 holes in 1980. Today the course offers a challenge for all skill levels.

The fairways are embedded in the castle park with old trees; there are numerous water hazards.

Monument description

Three-part water system, manor house , angular structure with a large corner tower and stair tower , only the gate tower of the inner outer bailey has been preserved, the outer bailey has three wings. Main building fabric medieval, extension 16th century. Remodeling 17th century, farm building in 1705. In 1856 the courtyard facade of the main tower was renewed, arched windows on the ground floor, above a balcony , new transverse cornices , new small windows, all based on the previous facade, but thinner shapes. Chapel extension in the basement. (Herzog, workbook 37)

The oil paintings depict scenes from the story of Christ and date from the 18th century. The oil paintings are signed with the name "Jacobus Sitterig". (The oil paintings were entered as "historical items" of Myllendonk Castle, which was already listed on July 25, 1985.)