Satzvey Castle

The origins of Burg Satzvey date back to the 12th century, when a fortified manor farm existed on this site, administered by a family named Vey. This family was responsible for the lands of the Benedictine convent of Dietkirchen. In 1368, Otto von Vey was enfeoffed with Satzvey by the Archbishop of Cologne, Engelbert III von der Mark. When the male line of the Vey family died out, the vogtei and the castle passed to Heinrich von Krauthausen in 1391, who was connected through marriage to Otto's granddaughter. In 1396, he had the first Gothic castle house built. In the 15th century, the defensive structures were expanded with a gatehouse featuring double towers, a zwinger, and a reinforced outer bailey. After changing owners, the castle came into the possession of Wilhelm Spies von Büllesheim in 1561 through usurpation. Following an occupation by Duke Wilhelm V of Jülich in 1578, the lord of the castle, Spies von Büllesheim, had to swear allegiance to both the Duke and the Archbishop of Cologne. By the end of the 16th century, the vogtei became an immediate imperial seat of power. In 1747, Karl Otto von Gymnich acquired the castle.