Between tusks and prehistoric dragonfly wings, history fans at Werdringen moated castle feel like they are on a journey through millions of years: The mighty mammoth model, 3.70 meters high and 6.50 meters long, rises up in the semi-darkness of the exhibition rooms of the Hagen Archaeology Museum. Interactive stations make the life of the first humans in the Ruhr Valley tangible. Outside, behind the castle walls, the landscape of the Kaisberg awaits, which is itself a history book made of stone and fossils.
The castle has always had an eventful past: originally mentioned as a tower castle in the 13th century, it was converted into a moated castle in the 15th century. The neo-Gothic reconstruction of 1856/57 under Count Ottomar von der Recke finally gave the estate its current romantic appearance, including the tower, which was more ornamental than defensive. Since 1977, the castle has belonged to the town of Hagen, which has carefully restored it like a treasure.
Today, the building is home to the archaeology museum, which tells the story of 450 million years of natural and cultural history of the southern Ruhr and Sauerland regions as well as the central Ruhr and lower Lennetal valleys. Visitors encounter fossils from the Hagen-Vorhalle brick quarry National Geotope, including unique insect remains with wingspans of up to 70 centimetres. A separate chapter is dedicated to the finds from the Blätterhöhle cave, where the oldest known skeletons of modern humans in North Rhine-Westphalia were discovered. The exhibits relating to Raffenburg Castle are also worth seeing. They document everyday life at a provincial castle in the 13th century.
But the experience does not end at the castle walls: The surrounding park is a protected biotope with ponds, orchards and rare animal species - a living counterpart to the fossils in the museum. Hiking trails lead along GeoPaths to the Kaisberg and open up sweeping views across the Ruhr Valley. Here, cultural history and nature merge in harmony. Educational and idyllic.
Werdringen Castle is therefore a worthwhile destination for families, history and geology enthusiasts. Of course, you can also discover a number of other attractions in the surrounding area. Lake Harkort, for example, invites those seeking relaxation to go for a walk. In Herdecke's old town, strollers will come across charming alleyways and lots of half-timbered houses. Culture fans can head to the Osthaus Museum Hagen in Hagen city center. If you want to experience more castle flair, you should either pay a visit to Wetter Castle in the immediate vicinity of Werdringen or the ruins of Volmarstein Castle.
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 Werdringen Castle: Hohenlimburg Castle. Find out more about the duo here.
