Alfter Castle

The origin of the castle goes back to the 12th century. After multiple destruction and in each case a makeshift reconstruction, the castle complex was converted into a baroque palace in 1721. The two-storey mansion with the flanking towers was largely based on the style of the previous buildings, and a three-wing outer bailey was built. Since 1188 the office of the electoral Cologne hereditary marshal was connected to Alfter Castle. In 1445 the complex came into the possession of the old counts and later princes of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Dyck.

Until 2009, the palace housed the architecture department of the nationally known Alanus University of Art and Society, which is now housed on Campus II of the university on Bonn-Brühler-Straße.

rhein-voreifel-touristik.de/sehenswuerdheiten/burgen-schloesser/schloss-alfter

A very nice, well-preserved castle

The pretty castle, which towers over the town of Alfter, looks at first glance with its yellow paintwork like a branch of the electoral buildings in neighboring Bonn. In this case, however, the ownership situation is a little different: Originally, the castle of the Lords de Halechtre (Knights of Alfter) stood on this exposed site. From 1168 onwards, this was at least associated with the hereditary marshal's office of the Electorate of Cologne. In 1433, the property passed into the possession of Count Johann VI of Salm-Reifferscheidt through marriage. In 1461, he took over the lordship of Alfter and the hereditary marshal's office. In 1583, the town, the castle and the adjacent Anna Monastery were completely destroyed. The current building was built in 1721 by Count Wilhelm von Salm ...
(Source: General-Anzeiger of July 6, 2022)