Anstel Castle

Burg Anstel was first documented in 1155, when a “Sigefridus de Anstele” was mentioned. A family “de Anstele” was listed as owners in the mid-12th century and referred to themselves as “Knights of Anstel” from 1209, later, after 1270, only as “Squires”. In 1371, the Archbishop of Cologne enfeoffed the squire Heinrich mit dem Barte with the castle, whereupon he adopted the name “von Anstel”. Around 1400, Heinrich von Siegenhofen acquired the complex. His lineage owned the castle until the male line died out. Around 1911, the descendants sold the castle to Theodor Jochemich. The Jochemich family still owns it today and converted the castle into a baroque residential complex in 1722, while preserving the original structure.