The castle is considered one of the most beautiful moated castles in Münsterland. In the main castle, magnificent art collections are waiting to be discovered. Outside, take a stroll through the baroque gardens and the extensive English landscape park.
Anholt Castle is one of the largest and most beautiful moated castles in Münsterland. In memory of an unforgettable honeymoon, Prince Nikolaus Leopold II zu Salm had a miniature of Lake Lucerne built at the end of the 19th century, complete with a romantic alpine hut. The massive tower from the 12th century still dominates the image of the former castle today.
The family castle has been inhabited by the Princes of Salm without interruption since 1641. At the end of the 17th century, the moated castle was converted into a baroque residential palace. A guided tour gives visitors an insight into the representative salons, private rooms and the 1000-year history of the house. In addition to the internationally renowned collection of old masters, including important works by Cranach, Murillo and Rembrandt, the art collections to be discovered also include porcelain, glass, tapestries, baroque furniture, weapons, coins and a historical book collection.
Magnificent garden
However, it is not just the castle that is worth a visit, but also the magnificent 35-hectare park and gardens. The English-style landscaped park stretches for miles with several beautiful ponds, winding paths and oases of peace. The Baroque gardens include the labyrinth, the Busquett, a Baroque garden with a strictly geometric and elaborate design based on the French model, and the water garden on the front of the castle.
The adjoining Anholter Schweiz Wildlife Park offers a family-friendly contrast to the elegant castle park: bears and wolves roam through their spacious open-air enclosures and native game and birds of prey can be observed in a natural environment.
Spend the night in grand style
A trip to the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia to the area just outside Isselburg between Münsterland and the Lower Rhine on the border with the Netherlands is particularly worthwhile in the high season from mid-March to mid-October. If you want, you can even spend the night here in grand style - at the Parkhotel in the outer bailey.
