Bladenhorst Castle, Moated castle in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany

Bladenhorst is a moated castle in Castrop-Rauxel whose oldest part is the gatehouse, a defensive structure; the main building was rebuilt between 1530 and 1584 in Late Renaissance style. It originally had four wings, and the round brick tower with a tall conical roof rises directly above the water. The chapel, dating from 1332, was demolished in 1941.

The first recorded mention dates to 1266 when it served as a residence for the lords of Blarnhurst. Major rebuilding work between 1530 and 1584 transformed it into the Renaissance structure seen today.

The castle takes its name from the Blarnhurst family who originally built it, shaping its identity across generations. The four-winged layout reflects building styles from different eras and shows the tastes of those who lived here over time.

The castle is privately owned and cannot be visited; there are no guided tours. The grounds form part of the Bladenhorst landscape park, laid out as an English landscape garden. The castle opens to visitors once a year, on the September Day of Open Monuments. Since 2015 civil weddings have taken place in the Rittersaal.

The property went to auction in 2006 and sold for far below its minimum asking price, reflecting economic challenges at the time. This surprising shortfall shows how historic properties can be affected by market conditions.