Birgel Castle

Birgel Castle is located in Birgel, a district of Düren in the district of the same name in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The noble family of Birgel is first mentioned in 1271, when Winnemar Frambach was Marshal to the Count of Jülich. In 1301, Count Gerhard I of Jülich exchanged the castle for the hereditary Vogtship of Düren. Later, the office of Marshal was elevated to Hereditary Marshal. After several changes of ownership, the castle came into the possession of the "von der Ehren" family in 1580. The son of the couple built the moated castle that still stands today at the beginning of the 17th century. The previous building appears to have been only a ruin due to the effects of war.

The castle is a four-winged complex made of quarry stone, surrounded by moats. The manor house is integrated into the line of the farm buildings in the northeast corner. The two-story gatehouse is located on the east front.

After further changes of ownership, the castle came into the possession of the Schoeller family in the 19th century. In 1913, Max Schoeller sold the castle to Baron von Diergardt.

During World War II, the buildings were significantly destroyed. In 1957, the then municipality of Birgel acquired the castle. It was converted into a school and inaugurated on September 10, 1959. However, the complete expansion could only be completed in 1964. Due to the municipal reorganization in 1972, it became the property of the city of Düren.

Today, the Municipal Community Primary School Burg Birgel is located in the buildings. Primary school students from Birgel, Kufferath, and Berzbuir are taught here. Until 1968, the secondary school was also housed here.