Kreuzau Castle

The origins of Burg Kreuzau possibly date back to Roman times, as it was built near an old Roman road crossing over the Rur. In the late 13th century, Dietrich Schinnemann, a vassal of Duke Wilhelm I of Jülich, was associated with the castle. Following a failed rebellion against the Duke, Schinnemann sold the castle in 1384 to the Collegiate Church of St. John the Evangelist. By the end of the 16th century, ownership passed to the von Walrave family, followed by the von Raesfeld family through marriage. In 1653, the castle's value was judicially estimated at approximately 4600 thalers. In 1668, Anna Stephana von Raesfeld, abbess of Bocholtz Abbey, transferred the right of inheritance to Lieutenant Colonel Dietrich Adolf von Torck. As the feudal lords in Jülich did not agree with this transfer, von Torck had the main castle destroyed. Despite legal disputes, his son Kaspar Jadokus successfully claimed ownership of the castle in 1701, which remained in the possession of the von Torck family until 1883.