Gut Müllenark, Medieval water castle in Schophoven, Germany

Gut Müllenark is a water castle near Schophoven featuring a main castle structure with thick brick walls and a baroque courtyard building. The property is surrounded by water features and includes residential and agricultural buildings spread across extensive grounds.

The estate was first mentioned in 1129 as Molenark and became strategic during conflicts between the Archbishopric of Cologne and the Duchy of Jülich. Its original fortifications date from this period of struggle, and baroque additions came later.

The estate combines architectural elements from different periods in its physical layout, with medieval fortifications standing alongside baroque structures. This blend is visible in how the buildings are arranged and in their distinct design details.

Gut Müllenark lies near Schophoven, a district of Inden in the Kreis Düren. Only two residential units are still occupied; the other buildings stand empty but are in good condition. The roughly 7.8 hectares of land are leased by RWE to a farmer from Inden, so the grounds are working farmland and not open to walkers.

Gerhard von Hanxler built the main castle in the first half of the 16th century; its foundations survive, and the battery tower at the northeast corner has brick walls four metres thick, which even 15th-century gunpowder artillery could not breach.