Nordkirchen Castle

Nordkirchen Castle (Schloss Nordkirchen) in Germany's Münsterland region is a Baroque moated palace so grand that it is nicknamed the "Westphalian Versailles." It stands on an island surrounded by water, avenues and formal gardens, and the park is free to enter. The interior can be seen on guided tours, and the castle now houses a university for tax and finance. It makes an easy half-day trip from the city of Münster.

Where it is and how to get there

Nordkirchen lies in North Rhine-Westphalia, south of Münster and north of the Ruhr area. The closest rail stop is Capelle, served by the regional train RB 50, with local bus R 53 continuing to the village; Münster and Dortmund both have connections. A Deutschlandticket typically covers regional trains and local buses here, but verify before you travel. By car, use the A1 (exits Ascheberg or Werne-Nord), the A2 or the A43. Parking at the castle is free, according to the municipality.

A short history

The site began as a medieval moated manor. Prince-Bishop Friedrich Christian von Plettenberg bought it in 1694 and had a Baroque palace built from 1703 to 1734, designed by Gottfried Laurenz Pictorius, with Johann Conrad Schlaun supervising on site from 1723. In 1903 the Dukes of Arenberg took over. Since 1949 the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has used the castle, and about 1,000 students now study tax and finance at the university here.

What to see

The castle island measures about 130 by 145 meters and is surrounded by a moat. A central axis stretches roughly 2.2 kilometers into the landscape. The park was shaped from the early 18th century with fountains and cascades, later reworked as an English landscape garden and, between 1906 and 1911, re-Baroquized. The Venus Island was restored between 1989 and 1991. Two garden buildings, the Oranienburg and the Orangerie, add to the ensemble. A restaurant occupies the vaulted cellar of the castle.

Visiting: tours and tickets (as of October 2026)

The park is free all year, according to tourism listings. To see inside you must join a guided tour. Unreserved tours reportedly run on Sundays and public holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. between May and September and from 2 to 4 p.m. between October and April; with a booking, tours are possible daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The interior tour lasts about an hour. One directory lists 5 EUR for adults, 2.50 EUR for children aged 6 to 12 and 6 EUR for a park tour, while the ADAC quotes higher prices, so confirm before you go. Contact the Nordkirchen tourist information at +49 2596 917-500. English-language tours are not mentioned in the sources.

Planning tips

Allow one to three hours: an hour for a tour plus time to walk the grounds. Spring through early autumn is best for the gardens. The wide paths suit cyclists and families; check ahead for wheelchair access and dogs, which the sources do not cover.