Bentheim Castle: A Historic Fortress in Lower Saxony, Germany

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.burg-bentheim.de

Country: Germany

Civilization: Medieval European

Remains: Military

History

Bentheim Castle stands on a sandstone ridge in Bad Bentheim, Lower Saxony, Germany. Its origins trace back to a Germanic refuge castle, predating the medieval fortress. The earliest written record appears around 1050 in the registries of Werden Abbey, where the site, then called “Binithem” or similar, contributed grain, honey, and money. In 1020, Otto von Northeim, a notable Saxon noble, is named as the castle’s owner.

In 1116, the castle was destroyed during a conflict between Duke Lothar von Süpplinburg, later Emperor Lothar III, and Henry V. At that time, it was likely a wooden fortification. Soon after, Otto von Salm-Rheineck rebuilt the castle in stone. His wife, Gertrud von Northeim, used it as her widow’s residence and is the first documented member of the Counts of Bentheim.

Following Otto von Rheineck’s defeat in 1146, the castle became a fief under the Bishopric of Utrecht. The bishop claimed the palace and chapel until 1190. In the mid-12th century, ownership passed through marriage to the Counts of Holland, who ruled until 1421. That year, Eberwin IV von Götterswick acquired the castle, founding the Bentheim-Steinfurt line. From then on, the rulers called themselves Counts of Bentheim.

In 1486, Count Eberwin II received formal recognition from Emperor Frederick III, confirming the county as an independent imperial fief. Between 1588 and 1593, Count Arnold II introduced the Reformation, following the teachings of Calvin and Zwingli. The castle and county endured repeated hardships during the Thirty Years’ War, including plundering by Spanish troops and plague outbreaks in 1636 and 1664.

During the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), Bentheim Castle was besieged and occupied multiple times by French and British forces. In 1795, amid the war against revolutionary France, the castle served as a field hospital. It was set on fire and captured by General Dominique Vandamme’s troops. An attempted demolition failed when a strong wind closed the powder tower door, preventing the explosion.

After the Napoleonic era, the castle returned to the Bentheim family in 1804. It remained largely ruined and uninhabitable until restoration began in 1848 under Prince Alexis II. Over time, the castle served various roles, including fortress, administrative center, court, and prison. Today, it remains owned by the princely family of Bentheim-Steinfurt.

Remains

Bentheim Castle occupies a 91.9-meter-high sandstone ridge known as the Bentheimer Höhenrücken, the last ridge of the Teutoburg Forest. The complex includes several key structures built mainly of sandstone, combining medieval and later architectural styles.

The Pulverturm, or Powder Tower, is a 30-meter-high square tower with walls 5.5 meters thick at the base. Dating from the 11th or 12th century and remodeled in the early 16th century, it features a 12-meter-deep chamber carved into the rock beneath, once used as a dungeon or powder storage. The tower bears inscriptions and coats of arms, including those of Count Everwin II and Mecklenburg. Embedded cannonballs from the 1795 French siege remain visible. The holes in the stone blocks are from construction, not battle damage.

The Batterieturm, also called the Round Tower, stands 45 meters tall and was built in the early 15th century directly on the rock. It served as an artillery tower housing heavy firearms, with smoke vents to clear gunpowder fumes. Connected to the main residential palace by a gallery, it also contained a torture cellar and dungeon.

The Kronenburg is a multi-story Gothic residential palace originating in the 12th century. Between 1883 and 1914, architect Franz Anton Nordhoff remodeled it in English Neo-Gothic style under Prince Alexis II. The palace includes representative rooms such as a knights’ hall, library, and a princess’s bedroom furnished in Rococo style. The knights’ hall displays historical artifacts like horse armor, hunting weapons, and banners from the Thirty Years’ War. A large carpet there was a wedding gift from Queen Emma of the Netherlands.

The Katharinenkirche, or St. Catherine’s Church, is a Gothic chapel with a Romanesque tower called the Bingelturm. First mentioned in the early 15th century, it was adapted for Protestant worship in 1544, later used by Catholics, and ceased religious functions in 1767. Now a museum, it contains a wooden gallery, stone pulpit, a 16th-century wooden Madonna statue by Evert van Roden, and numerous sandstone tombstones and coats of arms of the Bentheim family.

Inside the church is the “Herrgott von Bentheim,” a large early Romanesque sandstone crucifix from the 11th century. Measuring 2.8 meters high and 1.4 meters wide, it depicts Christ as a triumphant judge. Originally displayed outdoors near the Pulverturm, it was moved indoors in 2016 to protect it.

The castle’s lower gate dates from the 13th century and features sandstone carvings combining pagan and Christian symbols. The upper gate was redesigned in the 17th century by Dutch architect Philipp Vingboom, showcasing rusticated stonework.

Within the grounds is a 23-meter-deep well, reportedly dug by two knights during a siege. Nearby stands the Drususfelsen, a sandstone monolith bearing a Latin inscription from around 1715. This stone is linked to local legend and may mark a pre-Christian sanctuary site.

The courtyard hosts 49 historic rose varieties planted in 2004, mainly sourced from the Rosarium in Sangerhausen. These roses reflect garden styles from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Overall, Bentheim Castle is well preserved, with many original and restored elements. Visible historical marks include embedded cannonballs and inscriptions that document its turbulent past. Parts of the castle remain private residences of the princely family.