Haus Martfeld

The Schloss Martfeld was originally a knight seat of Kurköln and was built at the beginning of the 14th century. The castle belonged to the former castles chain, with which the possessions of the Cologne archbishop should be protected from access. At the beginning of the 18th century, the castle was quite dilapidated because it was no longer used. A merchant acquired the property and converted it to its present form. In 1954 de Stadt Schwelm bought the castle and today you can find the local museum and a castle café.

In the 14th century, the former electoral Cologne manor was created from a moated castle on the outskirts of Schwelm. Originally it served as a military checkpoint. 80 meters east of the facility was a previous building in the form of a tower castle.

The two-wing complex is emphasized by a round tower from 1450, the oldest surviving part of the building. In 1618 the complex was expanded with a square gate tower and a drawbridge. Schwelm's largest park with an area of 9.4 hectares has been designed around Haus Martfeld since the 19th century, 0.7 hectares of which have urban biotop functions.

Part of the park is also a neo-Gothic burial chapel commissioned by Frederike Elverfeldt, the Cologne master builder Vincenz Statz. The church building was extended by the architect Gerhard August Fischer.

Today the regional and city history museum is housed in the building. Readings, concerts, lectures and seminars are also held on the premises.

Source: baukunst-nrw.de/objekte/Haus-Martfeld--1742.htm

Former knightly estate! There is a restaurant inside!