Oeding Castle

On April 18, 1353, the squire Johann von Bermentvelde (Barnsfeld, Berntvelde) sold his main estate Oeding in the parish of Südlohn, including a mill, castle, buildings, fish ponds, and accessories, for 400 Mark to Bishop Ludwig II of Münster. This was the first documented evidence of the existence of Oeding Castle and the village of Oeding ("Flecken Oeding in the Nichtern farming community"). However, Johann von Bermentvelde was immediately enfeoffed with the castle again and in 1365 received the castle and the main estate Oeding back.

The "Haus Oeding" was rebuilt immediately after Bishop Florenz of Münster had the castle destroyed and razed in 1372 by Johann von Gemen. Gemen transformed the former motte-and-bailey castle into a rectangular ring-wall castle of the castellum type, established a main castle with an outer bailey, and had the castle freedom settled. This laid the foundation for the development of the town of Oeding. Throughout history, the castle frequently changed owners. After being sold to the Lords of Bermentfelde, the house came to Ambrosius von Viermünden (1517-1580), married to Friderune von Morrien (documented 1536-1556). He was enfeoffed with Oeding in 1536 and bought the hereditary claim to Oeding in 1555. His father Philipp von Viermünden zu Medebach und Nordenbeck (documented 1495, † 1528), married to Margaretha von Schönfeld called Grasdorp, was enfeoffed in 1519 with the Münster "havezathe" Mallem near Eibergen/NL. Later, the property passed to the Lords of Keppel and finally to the Lords of Mulert. In 1839, the castle and its possessions were sold, and the moats were filled in 1854. The buildings were later demolished, except for the castle tower and parts of the vault.

The tower from the second half of the 15th century and the still preserved castle vault are the last remnants of the former Oeding Castle, which dates back to 1371/72. At that time, a market town was established at Oeding Castle, which emerged from a main estate. This is therefore the most significant historical site in the Oeding district. Of the original moated castle, designed as a U-shaped complex, the round brick tower from the second half of the 15th century remains. Above a pointed arch frieze is a twelve-sided upper story with gunports, loopholes, and a tent roof. The tower has been restored several times, most recently in 1979, and is now integrated into a new hotel building (since 1979).