Gracht Castle and Park

The municipality of Liblar acquired the complex with the castle park and lands in 1957, and in 1962 the castle was sold on. After several changes of ownership, a group of Rhenish entrepreneurs acquired the castle in 1973, which housed the university seminar of economics after 1976 (after extensive restoration was completed). In 2004 it was integrated into the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT Berlin) founded in 2002.

After Gracht Castle had served as a military hospital for several years during the French administration (since 1795) and was then left in ruins, building work to preserve the complex became essential.Today's manor house was built between 1851 and 1854 on behalf of Levin Anton Graf Wolff Metternich according to the plans of the Cologne architect Johann Anton Wallee. The previously two-storey east wing of the building was increased by one floor and a flanking, four-storey tower was erected. Furthermore, the house was extended by a two-story south wing with a three-story corner tower. Parts of the previous buildings from 1698 were integrated into the new buildings of the outer bailey in neo-Gothic style, which were erected after a fire.

Really great castle park with ancient trees 🌳🏰