Wasserschloss Tatenhausen, Water castle in Halle, Germany

Wasserschloss Tatenhausen is a moated castle near Halle in the Kreis Gütersloh, its main house and first east wing begun in 1540 in the Weser Renaissance style on 14th-century foundations. The two-storey stone building with a steep slate roof, dormer windows and a gabled tower at the right end stands reflected in a pond fed by the Laibach stream. A second east wing and tower were added around 1671, and the west wing, terrace and main entrance in simple Baroque style around 1700.

Tatenhausen is documented in 1491, when it belonged to the knight Bernd Hoberg. The Korff-Schmising family acquired it in 1524, and in 1540 began building the main house and first east wing on 14th-century foundations. A second east wing and tower followed around 1671, and around 1700 the entrance, terrace and west wing were added in simple Baroque style.

The name Tatenhausen does not come from the family: the estate was held by the Hoberg family until Heinrich Korff-Schmising, son-in-law of the last Hoberg, brought it to the Korff genannt Schmising family in 1524. They kept it as their ancestral seat for over 470 years; by inheritance it passed to the Freiherren Teuffel von Birkensee. The poet Friedrich Leopold zu Stolberg-Stolberg lived here from 1812 to 1816.

Guided tours are only possible with advance registration and cover the castle courtyards and the chapel, not the interior living rooms. The complex lies on the L931 between Halle-Bokel and Halle-Hörste and is on the BahnRadRoute Teuto-Senne and the Haller Radrundweg R2; it is station 3 of the Laibachweg cultural trail.

Healing springs were discovered at this location in the 18th century, leading to the construction of a bathhouse. This spa facility attracted visitors from the region and turned the castle into a destination for spa guests until the late 1800s.