Odenkirchen Castle (Mönchengladbach)

The first documented mention of Odenkirchen Castle dates to 1153, when Emperor Frederick Barbarossa confirmed the ownership rights to Archbishop Arnold II of Cologne. The castle functioned as an independent sub-lordship, a “Herrlichkeit,” of the Electorate of Cologne. In 1689, the complex was severely damaged by bombardment during the Franco-Dutch War. Another fire in 1701 reduced the castle and the entire town to rubble, after which it was never rebuilt to its original state. Although the von Merode-Westerloo family renewed an archway and erected outbuildings in 1734, they had to mortgage the castle to Count Unico von Wassenaer in 1730 due to financial difficulties. He sold it in 1745 to the Cologne Elector Clemens August.