Aldenhoven

Engelsdorf Castle has an eventful history. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The former fortress largely acquired its present form in the 15th, 16th and 19th centuries. The "ancestral castle of the Lords of Engelsdorf" was first mentioned in documents in 1079. The two-part moated castle complex, which includes a two-winged main building and an outer bailey, is nestled in an idyllic landscape. The castle is located in the immediate vicinity of the Merzbach stream in the village of Engelsdorf, the smallest district of the municipality of Aldenhoven.

In 1526, Anna von Paland had the north-east wing extended around the north-west wing to form a central residential building (palas). Between the two wings stands a square stair tower with a spiral oak staircase. The outer bailey was not built until the 19th century. The defensive walls remained intact until 1850. Their thickness and the moat were evidence that Engelsdorf Castle was a real fortress. The castle was accessed via a bridge in the inner courtyard.

Today, Engelsdorf Castle is owned by the Fernandez family of artists from Chile, who run a studio here. Together with the federal government, the state and the municipality of Aldenhoven, they are committed to preserving and restoring the old fortress with extensive funding and their own resources. In addition to an artists' workshop and a hostel for art students, part of the castle complex is to be made available to the public for events.