Nordkirchen Castle, also known as the "Westphalian Versailles", is the largest and most important moated castle in Westphalia. It is located in the picturesque landscape of southern Münsterland, in the immediate vicinity of the town of Nordkirchen. The castle, which was built between 1703 and 1734, impresses with its baroque architecture and the extensive gardens, which are surrounded by a wide moat.
The complex is now under the administration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and houses the University of Applied Sciences for Finance. Part of the castle, including the magnificent gardens and the castle chapel, is open to the public. The high-quality restaurant in the castle, which offers Westphalian cuisine with a view of the large garden, is particularly attractive.
The castle and its grounds can only be visited as part of a guided tour, which takes place without prior reservation on Sundays and public holidays. The park is open all year round and invites you to take a stroll, with the extensive park landscape and the numerous life-size marble statues being particularly noteworthy. These sculptures were first delivered in 1721 and have been continuously added to since then, further underlining the historical and artistic value of the castle.