Vischering Castle

The first mention of Vischering Castle dates back to 1271, as does Lüdinghausen Castle. At the time, the Bishop of Münster had entrusted it to the knight Albert von Wulfheim, as a kind of counterpart to the brothers Hermann and Bernhard von Lüdinghausen, who lived in the neighboring castles of Lüdinghausen and Wolfsberg. The Bishop of Münster saw them as a threat to his sovereign rights and had the town of Lüdinghausen conquered and Wolfsberg Castle destroyed. To keep his adversaries at bay, he gave Albert von Wulfheim the fortress later called Vischering. The original replica of the charter of 1271 is on display in the Vischering Castle Museum.

Vischering Castle was built north of Lüdinghausen in the Stever landscape. It is not known for certain, but the latest research shows that a stone predecessor building in the area of the main castle probably dates back to the 12th century. In 1271, a mighty residential tower was built in the present-day castle courtyard. Between 1519 and 1622, the castle was expanded into a residential castle, starting with a new gatehouse at the main castle. The curtain wall had been extended several times by then.

After a major fire in 1521, higher residential wings and a stair tower were built. Finally, the "Auslucht", which protruded into the house pond, was built. Although it never remained completely unused and continued to be important for the identity of the House of Droste zu Vischering, Vischering Castle only served as the long-term residence of the hereditary Droste Count Maximilian from 1893 to 1923.

Severely damaged in the Second World War, reconstruction began immediately after the war. The Münsterland Museum was opened in 1972 and extended again in 1984. The regional project "WasserBurgenWelt" gave the castle a new look in 2018: The permanent exhibition was revised, the castle was renovated and since then, Vischering Castle has also been the "Portal of Castles and Palaces in Münsterland" and provides information about the noble houses in the region.

The permanent exhibition is dedicated to the history of Vischering Castle and its inhabitants from its beginnings in the 13th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of the Droste zu Vischering family in a varied and interactive exhibition and trace their rise from a simple knightly family to one of the most important landed aristocratic families in the Münsterland.

The exhibition also provides an insight into the development of castles and palaces in the Münsterland and their aristocratic character. In the Knights' Hall, an artistic wall installation brings the world of the nobility around 1770 back to life. As the official portal to the Münsterland castles and palaces region, Burg Vischering also offers a wealth of information on the aristocratic houses in the region in the basement of the museum.

Defeat a dragon or extinguish a castle fire. Children of primary school age can experience this and much more when they explore the exhibition rooms on their own with the children's guide. Along the way, the kids learn interesting facts about the castle and its inhabitants. At the end of the game, each child receives a personal certificate at the museum ticket desk.

The children's guide is available in two levels of difficulty and in German and English. The children's guides are handed out free of charge at the museum ticket office in the foyer, where the game also starts.

There is a species-rich natural area around Vischering Castle. If you walk the circular path around the castle, you will find some 800-year-old trees. Signs along the tree trail provide information about the age and species of the trees. If you follow the path to the north, you can admire a stork's nest and, of course, its occasional inhabitants. Enchanted paths, small bridges and overgrown banks make the walk a special experience.

The moated castle landscape between the castles of Vischering and Lüdinghausen is a beautiful natural area in the middle of the town. A flock of sheep graze here from time to time. Herons, ducks, geese, coots and moorhens frolic in the moats and build their nests in the reeds. Pond roses bloom in the Stever and Gräften in summer and you can see perch, bream and carp underwater.

The landscape window, which can be discovered on the circular route around the castle, offers a slightly different perspective of the castle. The landscape window is an oversized wooden frame through which you can look at the castle and where you can also find some information about the castle. The best photo motif is when you capture the reflection of the castle, as the landscape window is covered with mirrors all around.

When the smell of fresh bread wafts across the forecourt of Vischering Castle, the bakery is busy baking. Jörg Terjung, bread sommelier and well-known Lüdinghausen baker, has breathed new life into the bakehouse. He loves stoking the fire in the old oven at the castle and baking bread in the traditional way. Visitors to the castle can not only buy a variety of breads here, they can also learn interesting facts about natural sourdough, wood-fired ovens and baking on site. There is often a board in the window with various samples.

Jörg Terjung also runs the Café Reitstall. The café and bistro is located in the outer bailey. The character of the riding stable was retained during the renovation. The cakes, tarts and savory dishes are homemade. Jörg Terjung's team pays attention to regionality, seasonality and the best ingredients.

There's plenty of culture in the castle all year round: exhibitions, concerts, theater, readings, performances, open-air cinema, festivals and much more. The BurgJazz series in particular always attracts renowned jazz musicians to Lüdinghausen.