Exaten Castle

Exaten Castle is a monastery and château set on an estate of about 140 hectares southeast of Baexem, featuring pitched roofs, dormer windows, and a bell tower. The complex is a protected monument and serves a modern residential function today.

The site was first recorded in 1329 under the name Ixaten and underwent its major transformation in the 1800s when it became home to German Jesuits seeking refuge. This settlement reshaped the buildings and their purpose significantly.

The cemetery on the grounds holds the remains of about a hundred Jesuits who lived and worked here during the monastery's active period. Their graves mark a quiet reminder of the site's spiritual past.

Access to the castle is limited since it functions today as a reception center for people seeking asylum and is managed by conservation organizations. Check in advance about visiting possibilities and any restrictions.

A stone carved with the year 1593 is set above the castle entrance, marking an earlier building phase before the later major renovations. This detail hints at architectural work that predates the more famous nineteenth-century transformation.

Location: Leudal

GPS coordinates: 51.21630,5.89290

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:28