Dreckburg, Medieval castle in Salzkotten, Germany.

Dreckburg is a medieval castle on the eastern edge of Salzkotten, surrounded by a water-filled moat and featuring two baroque wings added in the 18th century. A central tower rises above the complex, and the thick stone walls still show the original defensive character of the building.

Otto von Bentheim, a cathedral provost from Paderborn, had the fortress built between 1347 and 1357 as a defense against raids from the Electorate of Cologne. Over the following centuries the property changed hands several times and was gradually extended and altered.

The name Dreckburg derives from "Dreck", meaning moor, referring to the marshy ground around the moat. After 1802 the castle served as a manor farm (Gutshof), and from 1896 the estate was run under the administration of the Counts of Westphalen. The city of Salzkotten bought the castle in 2000 and sold it in 2002 to Erhard Christiani, who used it privately and professionally until his death in March 2017.

The castle sits on the eastern edge of Salzkotten, close to the B1 road, and is easy to reach on foot from the town center. For current information about access and opening conditions, Salzkotten Marketing is a good starting point.

The name Dreckburg derives from "Dreck", an old word for moor, referring to the marshy ground on which the castle was built. The complex began as a single residential tower with a high entrance, and the ring wall and outer bailey were only added in the late 14th century.