Bouvier Castle

The history of Bouvier Castle began in 1847 when the Luxembourgish lawyer and entrepreneur Johann-Joseph Richard commissioned the construction of “Villa Bouvier” in a classical style. He had previously built the manor house Hofgut Petry in Körperich in 1823. The villa was intended as a gift for his son-in-law, Bouvier, who also hailed from Luxembourg. The castle remained in the Richard family's possession until 1910, when they sold it to a doctor named Dr. Mainz. During World War II, the building was temporarily used as a prisoner-of-war camp. In 1956, the Association of Friends and Sponsors of Hansa-Gymnasium Cologne e. V. acquired the property and opened a school retreat center as early as 1957. Over the following decades, Bouvier Castle was expanded and modernized, including the construction of a sports hall and various annexes. In 1999, it was designated a cultural monument.