Schloss Werl, Medieval castle ruins in Werl, Germany
Schloss Werl is a fortress with four corner towers and a large central courtyard, its stone walls still visible today. The layout follows the typical design of an early modern defensive castle with a square ground plan.
Construction began in 1519 under the Archbishop of Cologne, who built it as a residence for visiting archbishops. The fortress stopped serving this purpose in 1803 and gradually fell into disrepair.
The Knights' Hall displays original shooting slots that reveal how soldiers defended the fortress in medieval times. Visitors can observe these small openings and understand the practical defense system of the period.
Visitors can enter the ground-level circular Knights' Hall to see original features of the fortress. Access is generally open, though amenities on site are minimal, so checking ahead is a good idea.
After parts of the castle were demolished in 1825, the stones were reused to pave a road toward Hamm. This repurposing connects the fortress's physical remains to regional development.
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