Steprath Castle

This house is an extensive, castle-like complex near the German-Dutch border. The oldest parts date back to the 15th century. The oldest part of the main house is the west wing. The mullioned windows are from the 16th century, unless they have been renewed in the meantime. The second wing has a stepped gable at the rear. It was built in 1632. The other gable, with a hip roof, dates from 1712 according to wall anchors. Above the gate to the outer bailey, one can see a magnificent coat of arms stone from 1698 in a hewn stone frame of Namur bluestone. Its inscription reads:

JOHANN CARSELIUS VAN DOORNICK AND JOHANNA MARIA VAN STEPRAEDT, LORD AND LADY OF THE BARONY OF WALBECK AND TWISTEDEN. Anno 1698

The manor house originated from the conversion and expansion of a farmhouse. In 1452, Diederich Schenk von Nideggen inherited half of the lordship of Walbeck and Haus Steprath. He was the son of Heinrich Schenk von Nideggen and his wife Lisbeth. Diederich's wife Adelheid van Büren was the heiress of Arcen. These two are the founders of the Steprath line. Diederich was a judge and governor. He and his brother Heinrich usually exercised the lordship together. When Diederich died in 1487, his son Roelmann inherited, and after his death - he remained unmarried - his brother Derick inherited half of the lordship and Haus Steprath. Derick was also not married but had eight illegitimate children (they were not entitled to inherit). Thus, by an arbitration award of the Duke of Geldern, the property and half of the lordship went in 1534 to Derick von der Lippe, the son-in-law of Wienand Schenk and Lord Gotthard Haes.

Later, this half of the lordship passed by marriage to Heinrich von Steprath. His wife was Catharina, the daughter of Reiner von Gelre and Adelheid Schenk von Nydeggen. Heinrich died in 1586 of the plague. The half lordship passed to van Doornick and finally to von Nagel-Doornick.

Today, Haus Steprath belongs to a doctor couple from Düsseldorf and a timber merchant from Warendorf, who restored it from the ground up.