Schloss Westhusen

Schloss Westhusen is a water castle with medieval origins, its main house built on around 350 oak piles and featuring yellow exterior walls with light-colored corner details. The complex includes several wing buildings and a polygonal tower whose distinctive bent roof rises above the eastern façade.

Gerlach Specke founded the castle in 1332 as a water fortification on Dortmund's outskirts. Over the centuries it suffered damage during conflicts before a major Neo-Gothic redesign took place between 1886 and 1888.

The castle displays a mix of medieval and later building elements that reflect how its role changed over centuries. Visitors can still see traces of these different periods in the walls and structures today.

The castle now serves as a senior residence and is not open for tours, but it remains visible and documented as an architectural landmark from the street outside. Its location on Dortmund's eastern edge makes it easy to view and approach.

The southeastern corner features a terrace with decorative battlements that rounds out the ensemble's visual character. These details show how the castle's original defensive purpose was merged with later aesthetic intentions.