Burg Blessem, Medieval castle in Erftstadt, Germany.
Burg Blessem is a medieval water castle in Erftstadt featuring a two-story gatehouse with a rounded entrance, connected by a bridge across a dried moat to the residential section. The structures today serve various purposes, with the former stables converted into a modern residential complex containing approximately 20 apartments.
The castle was founded in the medieval period and came under the rule of the Blessem family in 1363. Later, in 1696, Dominican monks from Cologne took over the property and have maintained it since.
The castle shows how water fortresses were adapted over centuries to function both as defensive structures and residences. You can see across its different sections how various periods left their mark on the buildings.
The castle is privately owned and generally not open to visitors since residences and private spaces occupy the grounds. Those wishing to explore the exterior can photograph the building and view its architecture from the surrounding paths.
The grounds were once surrounded by water-filled moats that defined the classic water castle design, but the moat is now dry and significantly alters its appearance. This drained condition demonstrates how greatly the infrastructure surrounding such structures has changed over the centuries.
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