Bruchhausen Castle

Bruchhausen Castle is a noble residence in the southeastern urban area of Olsberg in Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany). Bruchhausen Castle is located in Bruchhausen (southeastern district of Olsberg) in the valley of the Medebach, a headstream of the Gierskoppbach. It was built on the western slope of the Istenberg (721 m above sea level) or west below the Bruchhauser Steine at an altitude of approximately 450 m.

Originally, the complex was owned by the Lords of Bruchhausen. After their extinction, the property passed to the Gaugreben family in the 15th century. Around 1550, a castle complex was added to the residential tower dating from the 14th century and expanded in the following centuries. The three-story building is located within a small park. The complex is surrounded by a moat. Two bridges lead over it to the castle. The meter-thick masonry and the partially 10 m wide moat suggest an originally castle-like complex. A drawbridge was only replaced by a stone bridge in 1898. The outbuildings are located in the area of the former outer bailey. Among them is the Rentamt (steward's office) built in 1788. A wall encloses the outer bailey. Formerly, a chapel was attached to it, but it was demolished in the 19th century.

At the beginning of the Revolution of 1848/49, numerous inhabitants of the village of Bruchhausen marched to the castle, singing freedom songs, shouting for freedom and justice, and demanding "free wood and free pasture." The Rentamt building was stormed, files and account books were burned, windows and furniture were smashed. A few days later, the unrest was ended by Prussian military.

The castle remained in the family possession of the von Gaugreben family until 1937. After the death of the last owner, it came into the possession of Baron Ferdinand von Lüninck by inheritance. He was executed in connection with the assassination attempt of July 20, 1944. Through his daughter, the castle came into the possession of the von Fürstenberg family.