Weiße Burg Friesheim, Water castle in Erftstadt, Germany
Weiße Burg Friesheim is a water castle in Erftstadt with a main residential building and an outer bailey surrounded by water-filled moats fed by the nearby Rotbach stream. The complex shows today the stone remains of round bastions and earthwork remnants that mark its medieval structure.
The site originated as a manor from the 9th century, which Count Emundus of Friesheim donated to Cologne Cathedral around 830. The main residential building was destroyed by bombing in 1943, while some bastions have remained partially preserved to this day.
The castle shows in its foundations and towers how water fortresses were built in the flat landscapes of North Rhine-Westphalia. You can still see today how the round bastions and double moats defined the defense of this place.
The site is private property today and not open to the public, but the remains of the outer walls and bastions are visible from outside. The best way is to view the remains from the surrounding paths, which offer good views of the moats and structures.
One round bastion was restored after the war destruction and is visible today, while the second one remains in ruins. These different conditions still show the scars of the 1943 bombing that devastated the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
