Bensberg Old Castle

Archaeological findings suggest that the first structures of Bensberg Castle were built as early as the 12th century, during the Staufer period. The first written mention appears in a document from 1138/39, in which a Wicherus de Benesbure is named as a witness. It is believed that the castle was then in the possession of the Landgraves of Thuringia. Between 1210 and 1218, Engelbert von Bensberg appeared multiple times in documents, presumably belonging to the Bergian ministerialis. The first direct written evidence of the castle dates to 1230, and by 1247, it was in Bergian possession. Originally conceived as a defensive castle, it already featured a moat and a drawbridge in the 12th century. With the advent of firearms in the late 14th century, its use shifted towards residential purposes. From 1413, the complex was no longer referred to as a castle but as Bensberg Palace or House.