Germany - Schloss Steinfurt

Schloss Steinfurt or Schloss Burgsteinfurt (Steinfurt Castle) is located on an artificial island in the AA River. The castle is the oldest structure of its kind in Westphalia. It was first mentioned in documents in the year 1129, being a small square tower on a hill. A little later the original construction was added. During the centuries the castle was often rebuilt or extended.

The Burgsteinfurt Castle complex consists of three elements. The upper castle is the oldest part, where the castle owners still live. The lower castle houses outbuildings, like barns, a coach house, a gate house and apartments for servants. The third part of the complex is a watermill.

In 1421 the male line of the Steinfurt family was broken and Castle Steinfurt passed to the representative of the Bentheim family. He and his descendants called themselves Counts of Bentheim and Steinfurt. During the Thirty Years’ War the castle changed owners and was heavily damaged several times. It was finally restored betreen 1706 and 1715. Later several new baroque buildings were added.

The castle - Burgsteinfurt’s most important building - is still inhabited by the noble Bentheim-Steinfurt family and is not open foir public.