Standing on the stone arched bridge of Wissen Castle and letting your gaze wander over the stately grounds, you will inevitably feel like part of the nobility. The magnificent main building in Baroque style, the neo-Gothic castle chapel and the three-winged outer bailey form an impressive ensemble that transports visitors back in time. Noblemen and ladies-in-waiting once walked here. The von Loë family, whose ancestral seat has been the historic building in Weeze for more than 550 years, received guests within these walls and entertained them in a manner befitting their rank.
Today, the gates of Wissen Castle are no longer only open to aristocrats, but to anyone looking for something special. Right next to the castle is the Boye, once the residence of the closest servants, which has been transformed into a charming vacation home. There are 21 rooms, suites and apartments available in six lovingly restored guest houses. Each one bears the name of a former member of the Loë family. Guests sleep with Fritz, Clemens or Friedrich Karl, with Aunt Wirtz or Lisbeth and quickly feel at home thanks to this personal touch.
After a hearty breakfast in the former castle mill, a wide range of leisure activities await: a visit to the castle chapel, which is considered one of the most beautiful neo-Gothic church buildings in the Rhineland, is a must. The delicate paintings by artist Edward von Steinle, ornate enamel work, a historic organ and colorful stained glass windows from Birmingham are sure to impress.
But Wissen Castle offers even more than just historical splendor and shared hospitality: on special event days such as the Park Festival, areas of the castle that are otherwise closed are opened. Visitors can then explore the mysterious dungeon or climb the clock tower. Music is also played in the grounds from time to time. Regular concerts transform the historic rooms into impressive soundscapes.
Those staying longer in Weeze will find numerous other leisure activities around the castle. Whether it's a canoe tour on the Niers, an exciting tablet scavenger hunt around the castle or the unusual borderland draisine tour between Kleve and Kranenburg - the journey is the reward.
By the way: Visiting just this one castle would be far too much of a shame. NRW is the state with the most castles and palaces in Germany. To make it easier for you to choose, we have found a perfect counterpart for Wissen Castle: Castle Hertefeld. Find out more about the duo here.
