Burg Vondern: A Historic Medieval Castle in Oberhausen, Germany

Visitor Information

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Official Website: www.burg-vondern.de

Country: Germany

Civilization: Early Modern, Medieval European

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Burg Vondern is situated in the town of Oberhausen, Germany. It originated as a fortified residence during the Middle Ages under the authority of the Counts and Dukes of Cleves, a noble lineage influential in the region.

The earliest known reference to the lords connected with this site dates back to 1162. The castle itself appears in historical records in the 13th century, notably in 1266 or 1277, as the home of Gerhard de Vondere. Initially, Burg Vondern belonged to the von Vondern family, who served as ministeriales, or administrative knights, appointed by the Counts of Cleves. In 1401, the estate was divided between daughters, leading to the property passing through marriage alliances to the von Loë family early in the 15th century. Around 1520, the new owners renovated the outer bailey, updating parts of the complex.

Ownership of Burg Vondern later moved to the von Willich family in the late 1500s, and subsequently to the von Brempt family in the 1600s. The von Brempts attained the status of Reichsfreiherren, or Imperial Barons, in 1627, elevating the castle to a barony and reflecting its rising social status. By the 18th century, the castle came under the jurisdiction of the County of Berg and was inherited by the von Nesselrode family in 1730. During the late 1700s, under Johann Franz Josef von Nesselrode, Burg Vondern ceased to be used as a noble residence.

Following this period, in 1799 the property transferred to the Droste zu Vischering family. The castle ultimately became part of the Prussian state in 1937. After the upheavals of World War II, ownership passed to the city of Oberhausen around 1946 or 1947. In the post-war years, the buildings served agricultural purposes, and proposals to convert the site into a workers’ college in 1948 did not come to fruition. Between 1982 and 1995, the city in cooperation with a local preservation society undertook extensive restorations, preventing deterioration and demolition. A new building called the Remise replaced the former stable in the outer bailey in 2006–2007. Since 1987, Burg Vondern has been officially protected as Oberhausen’s oldest listed monument.

Remains

Burg Vondern comprises two main sections: the manor house and a two-winged outer bailey situated to the southwest. Once surrounded by broad moats, the castle was originally a water castle with the main residential building located on its own island. Over centuries, the defensive water features gradually silted up, but restoration efforts recreated ponds near the outer bailey and the area surrounding the Remise, echoing the original watery defenses.

An earthwork enclosure around the site offers evidence that a full set of defensive walls once enclosed the castle complex. While precise dating through documents is unavailable, the style of the surviving structures allows experts to date various parts. The outer bailey is primarily built from brick and showcases elements from the late Gothic to early Renaissance periods. Its current appearance likely stems from remodeling undertaken around 1520.

A distinctive feature of the outer bailey includes a central gatehouse topped with a hipped roof and decorated with a rounded-arch frieze just below the roofline. Flanking this gatehouse are two round corner towers: the northern one known as the “Abortturm” or privy tower, and the southern called the “Gerichtsturm” or court tower. These towers bear conical roofs and pointed-arch friezes, though until the 17th century they were surmounted by battlements instead of roofs. Keyhole-shaped arrow slits in the walls attest to original 15th-century defensive arrangements. The south wing’s outer wall contains traces of the original ring wall and features a battlemented walkway supported by arcades with pointed arches, which probably once extended around the entire outer bailey.

The manor house, built in the 17th century possibly during the chaos of the Thirty Years’ War, presents Baroque architectural qualities. This two-winged residence has a hipped roof and was initially approached by a wooden drawbridge. This was likely replaced in the 18th century by the present stone arch bridge, consisting of sandstone piers, which was restored as recently as 2021. The front facade of the manor is arranged around seven window axes and framed by two pavilion-like projections topped with curved gables on the ground floor. The rear facade contains bricked-up windows revealing elements of an earlier, late Gothic building phase.

Excavations during modern restoration work uncovered a vaulted cellar beneath the manor, revealing a medieval kitchen equipped with a fireplace. This find highlights the castle’s enduring occupation through various historical periods. The outer bailey’s former stable was cleared and replaced by the newly constructed Remise between 2006 and 2007, continuing the site’s architectural evolution. Together, these elements provide a layered account of Burg Vondern’s long history as a fortified noble residence and administrative center.