Schlagbaum Manor (Köln)

Haus Schlagbaum is a former moated castle from the 16th century between Merheim and Holweide.

Originally, the house belonged to the Duchy of Berg. It was first mentioned in 1540 in the documents of the Duke of Berg as Laacher Gut. Later, the house was referred to as Herrschaft zum Broich (peat bog).

At least parts of it passed into the possession of the Rolshoven court association around 1600, which belonged to the Benedictine Abbey of St. Pantaleon.

The name Haus Schlagbaum was first mentioned in 1643 and indicates a toll station.

Since the 1930s, the house belonged to the city of Mülheim.

After the Second World War, under the leadership of sculptor Toni Zenz and architect Emil Steffan, the preserved stables and servants' quarters were converted into four apartments with studio spaces. The dilapidated ruin was completely demolished except for the corner tower and the gate and rebuilt, while maintaining the character of the original building. After the reconstruction, the estate was placed under monument protection and the artists received a hereditary lease for 25 years. Before the hereditary lease expired, the residents bought the house.

Among other things, due to a new extension to the right of the gate entrance, the estate was removed from the list of monuments in 1983.

The house was located on an old arm of the Rhine that had silted up. The swampy water areas bordered the park. At the end of the 18th century, the area was drained and placed under nature protection. Until then, one could travel by boat across the many ponds, pools, and streams to the neighboring Haus Herl. In the 1970s, the A 3 was built, reducing the park to a third of its original size.