Nordkirchen Castle Nordkirchen

The park is one of the most beau­ti­ful gar­dens in Europe and, to­geth­er with the mag­ni­fi­cent palace, is known in Mün­ster­land as the “West­phali­an Ver­sailles”. Vis­it­ors can ad­mire the op­u­lent stucco work, won­der­ful ceil­ing paint­ings and fine wood carving.

Schloss Nordkirchen in the Coesfeld district of Münsterland is one of the most important castles in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the largest moated castle in the Westphalia region. Schloss Nordkirchen is known as the "Westphalian Versailles" thanks to its enormous dimensions and Baroque layout, as well as the impressive landscape and garden design in the adjacent castle garden. The castle and park were designed by Westphalian Baroque architect Johann Conrad Schlaun. The palace building itself, with its splendid halls and High Baroque chapel with sumptuous stucco work, ceiling frescoes and wood carvings, can be visited on Sundays and public holidays on hourly guided tours.

The Schlossgarten (Palace Garden) is one of the most beautiful grounds in Europe. Numerous noted garden designers have helped shape the garden since the construction of the castle in the 18th century by Prince-Bishop Friedrich Christian von Münster of the Plettenberg-Lenhausen dynasty. Some parts of the palace park are in the style of an English landscape garden, whilst others have been “re-Baroque-ised” over the course of time. The palace garden still provides a real fascination with its lawn parterres and parterres de broderie, its topiary and its many sculptures in the park, not forgetting its avenues and pathways. Schloss Nordkirchen and its important park have been designated worthy of protection and as an “artwork of international standing” by UNESCO.