Vilzelt Castle

The exact date of Vilzelt Castle's construction is unknown, but its first documented mention dates back to 1290. At that time, the castle was transferred from Arnold zu Unkel to the Teutonic Order. Later, Vilzelt appears to have been owned by the Archbishopric of Cologne, as the Cologne Cathedral Chapter established a Vogt's seat there. The first Vogts came from the noble families “von Oetgenbach” and “von dem Werde(r)”. In 1449, Adam von Oetgenbach and his wife Maria sold the castle to Wilhelm von Nesselrode-Ehreshoven, who was subsequently enfeoffed with it by the Electorate of Cologne. Between 1713 and 1716, the Nesselrode family had the bridge over the moat renovated and a portal erected.