Rittergut Gelleshof, Cultural heritage monument in Tönisvorst, Germany.
Rittergut Gelleshof is an estate in Tönisvorst with a manor house, farm buildings, and a gatehouse arranged in a rectangular layout around a central courtyard. The entire complex is surrounded by water-filled ditches that originally served as medieval defensive structures.
First recorded as Etgenhof in 1346, the property served as a feudal holding of the Lords of Hüls for several centuries. Control eventually passed to the von Danwitz family through marriage alliances in the late medieval period.
The red brick house built in 1873 under Peter Jakob von Danwitz shows how wealthy families organized their estates during that period. Walking through the property, you can see how residential and working spaces were arranged to reflect the owner's status.
The property features a traditional moat system with a drawbridge, typical of defensive structures in the Rhine region. Plan your visit ahead since access to the grounds may be restricted and you should check locally before arriving.
The Berfes tower underwent major restoration in 1719, revealing how building methods and styles evolved over the centuries. This work transformed how the defensive tower functioned and appeared for centuries afterward.
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