Schloss Nordkirchen

Schloss Nordkirchen is a Baroque residence in the town of Nordkirchen, with four wings enclosing a rectangular courtyard and surrounded by an extensive garden of canals and pools. The facade shows pale sandstone with multiple window bays, while inside there are formal halls, a chapel, and staircases decorated with stucco and wall paintings.

Construction began in 1703 under orders from Friedrich Christian von Plettenberg, the Prince-Bishop of Münster, following plans by architect Gottfried Laurenz Pictorius. The complex was later expanded by Johann Conrad Schlaun, who also reworked the garden design and completed the ensemble by the mid-18th century.

The name refers to the northern location relative to a church that once stood in the area, though no such settlement exists today. Visitors can walk through the formal garden, laid out in the French style with straight paths cutting through flowerbeds and hedges, and view the interiors during guided visits.

The site now houses an administrative college, but visitors can join guided tours of selected rooms and the garden. The park is open to the public and suitable for a longer walk along the waterways and through the avenues.

The chapel contains ceiling frescoes and marble sculptures by Johann Wilhelm Gröninger from 1721, among the few surviving original works of that period. The moats and canals follow a geometric pattern based on Dutch models and still shape the view of the entire complex today.

Location: Nordkirchen

Inception: 1703

Architects: Gottfried Laurenz Pictorius, Johann Conrad Schlaun

Elevation above the sea: 67 m

Address: Schloß 1, 59394 Nordkirchen

Website: http://schloss.nordkirchen.net

GPS coordinates: 51.73260,7.53368

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03