Bentheim castle (Burg Bentheim)

A large, beautiful castle that we recommend visiting. The first mention of it dates back to the 11th century, when the castle was owned by Count Otto von Northeim, one of the most influential Saxon nobles.








In 1116, Duke Lothar von Süpplinburg, who later became Emperor Lothar III, seized the castle, looted it and completely destroyed. The ruined castle was soon rebuilt and came into the possession of Lothar's son-in-law, Count Otto von Salm-Reineck.

The name Bentheim first appeared in 1171, when the castle was owned by the Count's grandson, Otto the Younger, who became the founder of the Bentheim-Holland family, which existed until 1421. The castle then passed to the Bentheim-Steinfurt line, and the lords-owners began to call themselves Counts of Bentheim.

In 1486 the county was recognized as an independent territory for the first time. In 1489, construction began on the Powder Tower, which can now be climbed.












The county fared well until the Thirty Years' War, when it was sacked in 1626. In the following years there were crop failures, and in 1636 the plague came and killed thousands of inhabitants. In 1752 the county and castle were given to the Electorate of Hanover, thus destroying the country's independence.










In 1804, the year of Napoleon's coronation as emperor, the county reverted to the possession of the Earls of Bentheim. At this time, most of the castle was in a ruined state and uninhabitable, so restoration work began in 1848. Kronenburg, a medieval palace, was expanded into a representative residence.






Members of the princely house of Bentheim and Steinfurt still live in the castle, but most of it is run as a museum and is available to the public. Check the official website for opening hours.
















Getting there: parking 52.303500, 7.155528. The Bad Bentheim train station is within walking distance from the castle.