Hovestadt Castle

In the very south of Münsterland in the valley of the river Lippe lies a true treasure of the region. Hovestadt Castle with its wonderful baroque park is always worth a stop. Hovestadt Castle stands imposingly in the middle of a well-tended park, which is a real eye-catcher even for Münsterland.
The archbishops of Cologne had built fortifications in many places along the Lippe to secure their borders, including Hovestadt. In 1152, Dietrich von Hovestadt is mentioned for the first time in the documents with a permanent residence.

From a knight's castle to a family seat

Hovestadt Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1292. Because of its strategically favourable location at the Lippe crossing, it was destroyed several times in the Middle Ages, but always rebuilt. Today's moated castle with main castle was built between 1563 and 1572 by Laurenz von Brachum. The baroque outer castle complex was designed by Johann Conrad Schlaun. The Counts of Plettenberg have owned the castle since 1710. They have inhabited it since 1733.

"New" historic baroque park

The baroque garden dates from the 18th century and was opened to the public in 1997 after restoration. During the restoration, great attention was paid to the historical structures of the baroque park.
Furthermore, a visit to the pilgrimage basilica of St. Ida in Herzfeld and the moated castle of Haus Assen are worthwhile. If you want to explore the area by bike, you can cycle from Hovestadt Castle on the 100 Castles Route as well as on the Roman-Lippe Route further into the expanses of the Münsterland.