Burg Schermbeck, Medieval water castle in Schermbeck, Germany

Burg Schermbeck is a medieval water castle with a square tower and gatehouse in the Münster region. The entire structure is still surrounded by a complete water moat today.

Burg Schermbeck was built around 1300 as a Kleve regional castle and was first mentioned in a document in 1319. Over the centuries it was repeatedly destroyed, damaged and rebuilt. It is now privately owned and inhabited.

The castle shows the typical style of a lowland fortress, as was common in medieval Northern Germany. This design with the surrounding water was the practical way to build defenses in flat country.

The castle is privately owned, so visits need to be arranged in advance. The best views of the exterior and moat are from the surrounding grounds.

Burg Schermbeck was built around 1300 as a Kleve regional castle and was first mentioned in 1319. It is privately owned and inhabited, so it can only be viewed from outside. The complex has been destroyed, damaged and rebuilt several times over the centuries.