Landesburg Lechenich

Landesburg Lechenich is a medieval castle complex in Erftstadt with surviving brick walls, towers, and remnants of a residential building at the northeastern corner. The ruins clearly show the original layout with fortified sections and are surrounded by a large public park.

After the destruction of an earlier castle in 1301, Archbishop Heinrich von Virneburg commissioned a new construction that began in 1306. This new complex marked a shift in the region's building strategy for fortified structures.

The site held administrative importance for the surrounding region across several centuries and attracted high-ranking visitors. Today you can sense this former prominence in the surviving walls and the location overlooking the old town.

The castle grounds are made easily accessible with a large park for walks and exploration. The open space allows easy navigation and lets visitors view the building remains from different angles.

The castle was among the first large structures in the region built entirely from field-fired bricks made locally. This early building project demonstrates an experimental brick-making method that would later become standard in Rhineland architecture.