Let yourself be inspired

The eight Burgmannshöfe are part of the former hilltop castle, which was built in the 11th century and of which only a moat, a section of rampart and the courtyards themselves remain today. These served to protect the castle and housed the castle men and their families. As lords of the town, they greatly extended their power and authority over the citizens and even over the sovereigns and bishops. The courtyards have undergone repeated structural alterations over the centuries.

The Münsterhof is enthroned on the edge of the city moat with its late Gothic steep gables. The large building with its striking stone cross windows now houses a training centre and private flats. The Merveldter Hof, built using the beautiful and rare bacon layer technique, also rests on the rampart above the moat. The gleaming, former Renaissance three-winged blue is privately inhabited, but enjoys great popularity on Open Monument Day. In the Bürgerpark you will find the Borchorster Hof, the oldest of the eight contemporary witnesses. The house with the eye-catching gables sits enthroned on the Südring and protected the endangered south-west corner. The restored Sendenhof is located directly next to the impressive town gate and illustrates the high defensive value of the courtyards. Only an alliance coat of arms, the vaulted cellar, parts of the masonry and a chimney bear witness to the history of the Valkenhof. At Strickhof , only a pillar of the courtyard gate still bears witness to the once important past of the Burgmannshof dating back to 1281, while the origins of Deipenhof and Ascheberger Hof are hidden.