Haus zum Haus, Water castle in Ratingen Mitte, Germany.
Haus zum Haus is a water castle in Ratingen surrounded by water-filled moats and showing typical medieval defensive elements. The structure consists of nested building sections with stone walls and fortifications that are characteristic of regional military architecture.
The water castle was founded in 1276 and served the local nobility as a fortified residence. It played a role in medieval territorial disputes and documents the development of Ratingen's settlement structure.
The name refers to the nested building layout, where one house was constructed within another space. This reflects how medieval nobles organized their living quarters and expanded them layer by layer over time.
The site is centrally located in Ratingen and easily accessible by public transportation. Since it is a protected ground monument, visitors should check in advance whether and how the grounds can be visited.
The grounds combine archaeological remains with the still-visible foundations of the water moats. This layering allows visitors to see both the high medieval settlement and later-added elements.
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