Gut Böckel, Water castle in Bieren, Rödinghausen, Germany

Gut Böckel is a water castle and architectural monument featuring a two-story main house with corner towers connected to an outer bailey by a stone bridge. The entire complex sits within garden landscapes and a park with centuries-old trees.

The estate was first mentioned in 1350, held by the knight Alhard, called Rape von dem Bussche. The original castle stood northeast of today's site; that Altenböckel passed to the von Hake family and later the Kobolt, while the other half belonged to the von Quernheim and, from around 1540, the von Voss, who reunited both parts in 1689. The present baroque complex with two corner towers dates from 1682.

The Hertha-Koenig-Gesellschaft, founded in 1994, awards a €4,000 literature prize named after the poet Hertha Koenig, born on the estate; its first winner was Irina Korschunow. Rainer Maria Rilke stayed for several weeks in summer 1917 and lodged in the "Rilketurm". Concerts of the Russischer Sommer series take place in a 120-year-old former cow shed or in the park.

The estate welcomes visitors and hosts private events, public festivals, and seasonal markets in its historic buildings and park grounds. The surrounding landscape provides space for leisurely walks and exploration of the garden layouts.

The park's water-filled moat, the Gräfte, is fed by the Darmühlenbach stream. Since 2003, Emilia Kabakov's installation Meet the Angel has been on permanent display in the park, which was named Monument of the Month in Westphalia-Lippe in September 2010.