Schloss Borlinghausen, Renaissance moated castle in Willebadessen, Germany.
Schloss Borlinghausen is a Renaissance castle in Willebadessen, set on a steep slope in the Egge hills and surrounded by a water-filled moat. A bridge with decorated stone balustrades leads to the entrance and gives the building its recognizable appearance.
The castle was built in 1587 by Werner von Spiegel, hereditary marshal of the Prince-Bishop of Paderborn. Extensive renovation work in 1779 brought the structure to the form it has today.
Schloss Borlinghausen shows the typical features of Weser Renaissance, a style that spread across northwestern Germany in the 16th and 17th centuries. Visitors looking at the building from outside can spot the ornamental gables and sandstone details that mark this regional tradition.
The castle is privately owned and not open to the public, but it can be seen from the hiking paths that pass nearby. Mountain biking trails also run through the area and offer different viewpoints toward the building.
About 1 mile (roughly 1 km) toward Löwen, there is an ancient oak tree that has been designated as a natural monument. The tree's trunk is so wide that several people standing side by side can barely wrap their arms around it.
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