Nottbeck Castle

The Museum of Westphalian Literature is housed in a listed building of the former manor Haus Nottbeck and is located in Münsterland between Oelde and Rheda-Wiedenbrück. The history of this old moated castle complex dates back to the 15th century. The ground floor presents Westphalian literature from its beginnings until 1900, the upper floor introduces regional authors from Augustin Wibbelt to Paul Schallück and contemporary writer Marion Kortsteger, and the basement is dedicated to the Westphalian children's and youth literature scene. The American designer Robert Ward created the interior design of the museum.

The museum was opened in 2001, after the Warendorf district acquired the property in 1987. The expansion of the "Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck" was financed by the Nordrhein-Westfalen-Stiftung Naturschutz, Heimat- und Kulturpflege, the state of NRW, the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe, and the city of Oelde. During the Regionale 2004, Haus Nottbeck became an international meeting center for literature and music.

The museum concept is that literature is not only exhibited but visualized and staged. It is a museum that "is unparalleled in North Rhine-Westphalia, and which, inspired by Hans Magnus Enzensberger's 'Museum of Modern Poetry', tells literary history(s) in a contemporary way and brings to life literary worlds that continue to have an impact to this day and are placed in the current social context." In addition to the modern museum design, this includes numerous and diverse literary events: author readings, exhibitions, activities with music and visual arts, as well as conferences, for example on the topic "Topographies of Annette von Droste-Hülshoff" (2007). The "Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck" offers accommodation.

The permanent exhibition shows epochal themes, including the Anabaptist Kingdom of Münster under the keyword "Fanaticism and Superstition" or about "Westphalian Weimar" during the time of Princess Amalie von Gallitzin. On the upper floor, inspired by the reading pavilions of the Baroque era, there is a video pavilion where Westphalian authors answer the question "Why do I write?". In the old vaulted cellar, children can experience the acoustic installation "Castle Ghost Meets Street Gang". The library contains reference works, literary magazines, information material about institutions dealing with Westphalian literature, literary societies, literary offices and foundations, as well as an audiotheque of Westphalian radio play productions. In a "Cyber-Room", visitors can independently research information about contemporary Westphalian literature in word and image using modern data technology. The museum owns a special rarity, the "Cologne Bible" from 1478/79; it is the first Bible edition ever printed in Low German and contains 113 colored woodcuts. The archive contains works from all eras, from Werner Rolevinck's "Book in Praise of Westphalia" from 1474 to the expressionist literature of the Westphalian August Stramm and the Dadaist Karl Riha.

• Holiday academy for young literary talent. Idea and writing workshop "LetterClub"
• Museum educational programs for school classes
• Project "Word and Music" in cooperation with the district music school
• Open print workshop
• Nottbeck Book Market

Together with the Nyland Foundation, the museum publishes the CD edition Live! auf dem Kulturgut, which presents outstanding musical-literary events of the house. The first edition features the premiere of an evening with Peter Rühmkorf with an experimental combination of poetry and jazz. Further editions include:

• Helmut Krauss reads Georg Weerth
• Homage to Reinhard Döhl (1934-2004)
• Ernst Meister. "Unterm schwarzen Schafspelz". Jazz and Poetry

• 2002/2003: Jakob van Hoddis / Hans Davidsohn (1887-1942)
• 2003: A Literary Society in the 20th Century. 75 Years of the Annette von Droste Society
• 2003/2004: Reinhard Döhl / Karl Riha: image texts text images
• 2004: Home Sweet Home – House Calls to Westphalian Writers
• 2006: The Picture Book Classic Struwwelpeter
• 2007: Hertha Koenig – Tracing a Westphalian Poetess
• 2008: August Stramm
• 2008: Wilhelm Busch and Westphalia
• 2011: Book Lust and Printer's Comfort. 50 Years of Presse Eric van der Wal