Haus Traar, Medieval castle in Krefeld, Germany

Haus Traar is a medieval castle in Krefeld with a main building featuring a curved hipped roof and a single-nave brick chapel. The entire property shows how residential space, chapel, and original agricultural buildings formed a unified manor complex.

The estate was built in the 13th century as a knight's residence and belonged to the Teutonic Order for about 500 years until French annexation in 1801. After two devastating fires in 1584 and 1641, the entire complex was reconstructed starting in 1647 and gained its present appearance.

The name Traar derives from "ter Are", after the knights of Are who built the water castle first documented in 1255. The estate gave its name to the surrounding settlement, today a Krefeld district. At the entrance gate, coats of arms with the cross of the Teutonic Order recall the commandery period.

The estate lies at An der Elfrather Mühle 241 in Krefeld-Traar, reached via the Lindenallee and its bridge over the Kendel. Since 1992 the former farm buildings have been converted into homes, so the site is private and can be viewed only from the outside. The brick house stands behind trees and shrubs along a paved path.

The rebuilding after the devastating fires in the 17th century resulted in a brick chapel constructed with unusual solidity for the northwest region. This material choice and building method reveal how efforts after the fires aimed to create a more durable structure.