Haus Balken, Manor house in Marienbaum district, Xanten, Germany.
Haus Balken is a three-story manor house with plastered yellow facades and regularly spaced windows located northwest of Xanten. The building comprises multiple wings, including a chapel annex added in the late 1700s that forms part of the residential complex.
The manor house was built in the early 1400s as part of border defense against the Netherlands and served as a key fortification for the region. Severe damage from the 1600s conflicts led to major reconstructions that reshaped the building's layout and reinforced its structure.
The manor was an important seat of local authority and its rooms show typical features of refined rural life in the Lower Rhine region. The chapel on the grounds served as the center of religious life for the family and their household staff.
The property is best reached via the B57 federal road that runs directly from nearby Xanten. Visitors should note that the manor remains a private residence and photography is only possible from the outside.
The name comes from 'Hof ten Balke', referring to its original location between two toll barriers that controlled trade traffic in the area. These barriers made the property an important checkpoint for regional commerce and security.
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