Bodendorf Castle

Bodendorf Castle is a former moated castle in the Bad Bodendorf district of the city of Sinzig in the Ahrweiler district (Rhineland-Palatinate). The complex is a lowland castle and is a protected monument.

The castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century as a moated castle by Nicolo von Bodendorf. Together with Landskron Castle, it secured the Aachen-Frankfurt military road that passed by it. Later owners included the Lords of Randerath, Spies von Büllesheim, and others.

Between 1533 and 1608, the castle was uninhabited and fell into disrepair. After its reconstruction, the castle and village were plundered and set on fire in 1642 by imperial troops during the Thirty Years' War under General von Weerth. After the end of the Thirty Years' War, the complex was rebuilt. Plunderings and arsons were repeated in 1667, 1676, and 1692, when it was ravaged by French troops.

In 1772, the castle was surrounded by a wall and moat. Soon after, the dilapidated tower was demolished and the moat was filled in. The inner courtyard with cobblestones and a mighty lime tree was redesigned in the 18th century. The four-wing complex has a hip roof.

In 1929, the naturopath Matthias Leisen acquired the castle after discovering a radium-containing spring nearby. He used the water to treat his patients in the castle.