© Münsterland e.V.
Raesfeld Castle
Raesfeld Castle is particularly well integrated into the townscape. At the front, small buildings nestle against the outer walls of the castle, while at the back the historic zoo awaits its visitors. With a height of 52.5 metres, Raesfeld Castle has the highest tower of all castles in Westphalia. The Raesfeld tourist information centre is also located directly at the castle and offers a wealth of interesting information about the castle and the zoo.
Power, decay and reconstruction
The history of Raesfeld Castle dates back to the early 12th century. It was owned by the Lords of Raesfeld and came into the possession of the von Velen family at the end of the 16th century.
From 1643 to 1658, the Imperial Count Alexander II von Velen, the "Westphalian Wallenstein", had the castle converted into a residential palace in the Renaissance style. In the first half of the 18th century, the von Velen von Raesfeld dynasty died out. The castle was inhabited only irregularly and gradually fell into disrepair.
At the beginning of the 19th century, parts of the complex were demolished or used as an agricultural estate until the 20th century. Of the former four wings of the castle, only the west wing with the distinctive stepped tower and the adjoining old building to the north with a rebuilt round tower remain today.
After the Second World War, the Chambers of Crafts of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, as the new owners, had the remains restored. Today, the castle is the seat of the Chambers of Crafts' further education and training institution and is used for cultural events and as a restaurant.
A treasure for cyclists
Raesfeld Castle is very popular with cyclists. The restaurants in the immediate vicinity and the castle café invite you to take a break in the shade of the castle. The park benches offer beautiful views of the castle and provide an opportunity to catch your breath. The themed routes"100 Castles Route" and"Hohe Mark Nature Park Route" lead cyclists directly to the castle. The numerous signposted cycle paths also allow for beautiful day tours through the western Münsterland.
Map | Raesfeld Castle
Service & Offers
- Guided tours
- Gastronomy in the house
- 100 Castles Route
- Park by the house
- Outdoor
Group tours of the grounds and the castle chapel
- normal, groups up to 50 persons:40,00 €
- Duration: approx. 60 minutes
- Registration required
Events at Raesfeld Castle
We will devote ourselves to the phenomenon of night with all its facets: natural history, astrology, sensuality, playfulness and mysticism.
We will start the evening with a lecture on the topic in the seminar room. When it has become dark outside, we will go into the nocturnal nature and the forest. We will interpret stars, interpret nocturnal sounds, listen to stories and challenge our senses. The eventful excursion through the darkness ends with the lighting of a fire, where we warm ourselves and have a soothing drink...
Hagenwiese 40
46348 Raesfeld
- ermäßigt (*): 20
- Erwachsene: 35
We meet at the Böckenhoff farm in Raesfeld. After a short introduction about the "super food" sauerkraut and its history, you will make sauerkraut for your own consumption under expert guidance. From planing to mashing to storage, you will make and learn everything that is important. In the end, you will have had a lovely afternoon in a dignified atmosphere and will have a supply of vitamins for the winter in your luggage.
Hagenwiese 40
46348 Raesfeld
(* für „Wegbegleiter“ von Raesfeld-Erlebnis)
Zusatz-Kosten von Wegbegleitern: siehe Internetseite
- ermäßigt (*): 15
- Erwachsene: 25
Short description:
Learn how to turn willow into baskets in this course from our professional master craftswoman. You will learn to create a round basket from peeled and unpeeled willow...
... and don't worry, we won't give you a basket - you'll have to make it yourself!
Hagenwiese 40
46348 Raesfeld
ermäßigt für „Wegbegleiter“ von Raesfeld-Erlebnis)
Zusatz-Kosten: siehe Internetseite
- ermäßigt (Wegbegleiter): 40
- Erwachsene: 60
The Advent market at Raesfeld Castle takes all guests into a romantic winter world. With over 80 Christmas market stalls, the Raesfeld Christmas market has already become a tradition for the people of Raesfeld. Pretty ornaments and paintings can be discovered at the stalls. With a large gastronomic offer, guests will find everything to please body and soul.
Freiheit 27
46348 Raesfeld
- Kinder (Eintritt frei bis 14 Jahre): 0
- Erwachsene (Abendkasse): 4
- Erwachsene (Vorverkauf): 3
Places of interest around Raesfeld Castle
The Münsterlandblog
Zoo at Raesfeld Castle© Franziska Niemeyer
Our colleague Franziska Niemeyer explored the nature park house and the zoo for you and describes her experiences and gives tips in this blog post. Victoria Lennerz, on the other hand, has devoted herself more to the culinary highlights at Raesfeld Castle. In the shadow of the imposing castle is the Mahl & Meute restaurant, which she visited together with her colleague Philipp on "Meatwoch". Read more here.
You can experience a lot with me: Events, gastronomy, green spaces and other exciting things to explore. Curious?
Accessibility tested" label© Reisen für Alle
The Nature Park House Tiergarten Schloss Raesfeld and the Kultur-Erlebnis-Weg Schloss Raesfeld have been certified with the "Accessibility Tested" mark of the Germany-wide "Travelling for All" labelling system. This means that detailed and verified information on accessibility is available for all groups of people. In addition, the quality criteria for certain groups of people are partially or fully met. For more information on the Nature Park House or the Cultural Experience Trail, please visit the website of the "Travel for All" initiative.
Münsterland Tourism Centre© Münsterland e.V./Fabian Riediger
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