Anholt Castle

Anholt Castle (Wasserburg Anholt) in Isselburg, near the Dutch border on the Lower Rhine, is one of the largest and most beautiful moated castles in the Münsterland region. The princes of Salm-Salm have owned it since 1647 and still live here. Behind moats and walls you will find a Baroque residence, a 12th-century keep and a 35-hectare landscape park that makes a pleasant afternoon outing.

Where it is and how to get there

Anholt is a district of Isselburg in North Rhine-Westphalia, close to the Dutch border. Emmerich and Rees are the nearest larger towns on the German side. By train, travel to Rees-Empel station; according to travel portals a bus then reaches the stop "Schloss Anholt" in roughly a quarter of an hour, but check the timetable first. A Deutschlandticket usually covers regional buses in North Rhine-Westphalia. The address is Schloß 1, 46419 Isselburg. We found no official parking details.

History

A lord of Zuylen is mentioned around 1169; the moated castle probably predates him, and its keep, the "Dicke Turm," dates from the 12th century. The castle changed hands several times before passing to the Salm family in 1647. In 1743 the head of the family became an imperial prince. Around 1700 the castle was converted into a Baroque residence; the outer ward followed between 1697 and 1703. In 1945 about 70 percent of the complex was damaged, and the gardens were reconstructed between 1962 and 1995.

What to see

The 35-hectare park combines geometric Baroque gardens with lawns, ponds and trees in the English landscape style. The one-hour tour called "Wasserburg erleben" leads through the state rooms and salons of the beletage; at the moment only this floor can be visited. The picture gallery, described as the largest private painting collection in North Rhine-Westphalia with works by Rembrandt, Jan van Goyen and Lucas Cranach the Elder, is being renovated and rearranged, with no reopening date announced. A park hotel with a restaurant occupies the outer ward.

Visiting: hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

According to the official website, the park is open from April to October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission) and from November to March from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (last admission). Visitors must leave at dusk at the latest. Park admission is 8 EUR for adults from age 15; children up to and including age 14 enter free with an adult. The tour costs 20 EUR for adults, 9 EUR for ages 6 to 14, and is free for under-sixes, including the park visit. Tours are limited to ten people, so book ahead in the online shop, where current tour times are posted. English tours are not mentioned.

Practical tips

Leashed dogs are welcome in the park; bicycles are not allowed. Allow one to two hours for the park and about an hour for a tour. The Anholter Schweiz wildlife park, a separate attraction, sits next door and suits families.