Obbendorf Castle

Obbendorf Castle is a former knight's estate in Hambach, a district of the municipality of Niederzier in the district of Düren, North Rhine-Westphalia. The complex now houses a hotel-restaurant.

Obbendorf Castle is a four-winged complex whose buildings form a rectangle enclosing an inner courtyard. At the eastern corner stands the residential building with its distinctive gables from the Renaissance period. Wall anchors indicate its year of construction: 1604. To its north adjoins a three-story gate tower. The former farm buildings of the castle occupy the current south and north wings and date from the 19th century. The oldest parts of the brick lowland castle are its gate tower and the foundations, which date from the late 13th/early 14th century. The former moats that surrounded the complex are only partially preserved.

Obbendorf was first mentioned in a document in 893 in the Prüm Urbar. The first known owner was a knight named Reinhard von Oppendorp, who was first mentioned in 1301. From 1350 to 1481, the Schellarts, relatives of Reinhard von Oppendorp, were the owners. In 1404, the ducal steward Johann Schellart de Oppendorf was additionally enfeoffed with Gürzenich Castle. At that time, the knight's seat was called "Obendorph". Hermann von Hammerstein is recorded as the owner in 1481. This family remained owners until the beginning of the 17th century.

In 1604, the residential buildings were completely rebuilt by the von Hammerstein family. They also modified the gate tower and converted it for residential purposes. Its uppermost floor was removed in the process. Only a short time after these construction measures, Theodor Althoven, Vice Chancellor of the Duchy of Jülich-Berg, acquired the complex for 6300 Reichstaler. His grandchildren sold the indebted property in 1764 to the main creditor, a Baron von Hallberg.

After 1850, the castle was converted into an agricultural estate. The grandfather of the current owner, Hubert Müller, bought the property in 1907 and converted the complex with the northern stable wing into a closed farmstead.

After a major renovation in 1995, the castle was converted into a hotel-restaurant.