Hopen Castle

The construction of Hopen Moated Castle was undertaken in 1517 by Herbord von Dinklage near the Hopener Mühlenbach. The von Dinklage family owned the estate until 1591, after which it passed to the Lords of Haren, who held it until 1793. Through a partial inheritance and a subsequent purchase, the castle came into the possession of Friedrich Christian Oeynhausen zu Merrelsheim. In 1805, the von Galen family acquired the Hopen estate. After World War II, in 1948, the manor house served as accommodation for refugees. In the same year, Count Korff, known as Schmiesing-Kerssenbrock, became the owner. From 1954, the moated castle temporarily served as a youth hostel before returning to private ownership in 1964.