Top 20 Castles in Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm

The House As early as 1052, a medieval defensive structure in Hamm was mentioned, which was repeatedly adapted to contemporary needs over the centuries through alterations and new constructions. It stands on the site of a much older, early medieval refuge castle, where the inhabitants of the surrounding manors could retreat in times of danger during the Migration Period. The present appearance is significantly shaped by the surrounding and defensive walls as well as a residential complex from the Gothic period. The complex has dimensions of 40 x 80 m. The oldest building, still preserved in its basic structure, can be traced back to the Romanesque period and includes, among other things, the chapel, which was converted in the Baroque style in 1700. Two round towers frame a palace from the 14th century, also dating back to the late Gothic period, which was replaced by a Renaissance building in 1586. After a long period of vacancy around the mid-19th century, a fundamental renovation with some structural changes took place from 1885-1896. The Renaissance palace, like parts of the adjacent Gothic building, fell victim to arson by German troops in 1945, who did not want to let any German cultural heritage fall into the hands of the Allies. The post-war reconstruction secured the courtyard facade of the Renaissance palace, but removed the garden side, which was heavily destroyed by the building fabric, and added a small half-timbered structure in its place. The Family The original owners of Hamm were the Counts of Hamm, who served as vogts of the Abbey of Prüm. It was a fief of the Counts of Vianden, with whom they had close family ties. For a long time, the Bidgau was also administered from here. In 1371, the property was passed on through the marriage of the last of their line, Maria von Hamm, to the von Malberg - Milburg family. The last of her name, Anna von Malberg, married Gerhard von der Horst around 1580, the builder of the Renaissance palace. About 100 years later, the property passed through the marriage of the last von der Horst to the Counts Lannoy, who, after a hall collapse in connection with a fire in 1835, in a part of the building no longer preserved today, retreated entirely to their homeland of Clerf (Clervaux/Luxemburg). After the castle stood empty and the estate fell into disrepair, a descendant of theirs, Baroness Sidonie v. Tornaco, finally received the inheritance. She married Count Friedrich v. Renesse and, with him, carried out the aforementioned fundamental renovation. Their daughter Elisabeth married Egon Graf von und zu Westerholt und Gysenberg in 1909. Their son Otto managed and lived in Hamm with his family. After his death in 1980, his son Ferdinand took over the property and the house. Since 1998, Schloss Hamm has been partially accessible to the public through tours, weddings, registry office branch, festivals and cultural events, and much more.

Text according to the information panel: Nature Trail Deluxe – Premium Hiking – German-Luxembourgish Tours Rock Trail 2 – Bollendorf – Beaufort Luxembourg Sandstone Cliffs – Les roches de grès luxembourgeois Rock Trail 2 leads through Bollendorf (Moselle-Eifel) on the German side and through Beaufort (Müllerthal Region – Little Switzerland) on the Luxembourg side. This route is an exceptional hike through the fascinating landscape of Luxembourg sandstone cliffs. On the German side, the Bollendorf rock plateau impresses with its bizarre rock formations, caves, and overhangs. On the Luxembourg side, the trail leads through the romantic forests and gorges of the Müllerthal Region, where mighty rocks, moss-covered boulders, and narrow crevices alternate. The circular route impressively demonstrates how nature and geology have shaped the landscape. Numerous viewpoints and rest areas invite you to linger. Particularly worth seeing are the impressive rock formations near Bollendorf and the Beaufort castle ruins with their medieval charm. The "NaturWanderPark delux" offers a cross-border hiking experience between Germany and Luxembourg. The trails are certified as premium hiking routes and guarantee the highest quality in terms of nature experience, trail design, and signage.

Unfortunately, it was closed during my visit, but it is a very beautiful and imposing fortification in the style of a moated castle.

A very beautiful complex in the style of a moated castle, with the river Nims flowing directly past it.

The unique Malberg Palace complex consists of the so-called New House, the Old House, the arcade building, the brewery, and the chapel. The "Iron Garden" and the "Round Garden" also belong to the palace, which is situated on a mountain spur. Malberg Palace dates back to a castle mentioned as early as 1008. Nothing of the medieval building remains. In 1681, the Veyder family took over the castle and, from 1708 to 1715, had it expanded into a palace in the Venetian Baroque style by Matteo Alberti, an architect from Venice. The impressive buildings feature stucco ceilings and wood paneling, as well as tapestries and antique furniture. A unique feature is a painted wall covering depicting hunting scenes. Civil weddings can be arranged at the palace. The palace is not wheelchair accessible. Dogs are not allowed. Source: https://www.eifel-direkt.de/a-schloss-malberg

Rittersdorf Castle, a charming moated castle dating back to the 13th century, was first documented in 1263. Originally built as a fortified house for the Abbey of St. Maximin in Trier, it served to secure the trade routes between Trier, Bitburg, and Cologne. The imposing 26-meter-high keep, whose construction was approved by King Rudolf of Habsburg in 1290, still dominates the castle's appearance today. In the 16th century, the complex was expanded to include residential buildings with round towers. Today, the castle houses a restaurant, a small museum, and even a registry office, located in the historic Knights' Hall.

The castle's origins lie in the Middle Ages: a round tower with loopholes faces the river side. However, Bollendorf Castle received its current appearance primarily in the Baroque period. Abbot Gregorius Schouppe, whose coat of arms and an inscription with the year 1739 can be seen above the portal of the main building, had the building modified in the 18th century and expanded to include the central building and the south wing. The former living quarters of the servants and the farm buildings are arranged in a semicircle around the courtyard. The castle complex also included the mill below the castle and a garden with a pavilion. In the 1970s, the Freundt family took over the complex, restored it piece by piece and converted it into a hotel-restaurant. Here you can be a guest in a historical ambience and, for example, stay overnight in a room with a Renaissance fireplace from the 17th century or dine in style in the new "Ehemaliger Pferdehof" restaurant. Source: https://www.eifel.info/a-burg-bollendorf

Fine facility that can probably be traced back to a follower of Charlemagne... at least that's what it says... I can't believe it anymore... it was before my time..🥴