Prison
CastleHaldem
Haldem Castle
Haldem Castle is an old manor of the Bishops of Minden. It was built on the southern slope of the Stemweder Berg in the village of Haldem, in the present-day municipality of Stemwede in the Minden-Lübbecke district.
The estate was first mentioned in 1236 when Bishop Konrad of Minden transferred the tithe of Haledum to Levern Abbey. The brothers de Haledum, knights of the Stemwede county, were in possession of Haldem in 1264. In 1328, Bishop Ludwig of Minden enfeoffed the knight Gerold von der Horst with the estates of Haldem and Rahden. He was to serve as a protector of the bishopric's borders. When the noble family of the Knights of Wede died out in 1400, Dietrich von der Horst inherited further estates in Haldem, as he was the brother-in-law of Johann von Wede, and moved from Bersenbrück to Haldem Castle.
After the castle was completely destroyed in the Thirty Years' War, Julius August von der Horst had it rebuilt from 1692 to 1703. The finance minister of Frederick the Great, Baron von der Horst, further expanded the castle in 1775. It remained in the possession of the von der Horst family until its sale in 1830, before they retreated to Hollwinkel Castle. The new owner was the Prussian General von dem Bussche-Ippenburg. Until 1890, the castle served as a women's convent.
In 1910, Botho Freiherr von der Horst acquired the castle, which thus returned to the possession of the von der Horst family. Botho was considered a great artist and lived at the castle until his suicide in the castle park on January 27, 1927. After his death, ownership passed to Philipp August von Bethmann-Hollweg, a nephew of the imperial chancellor.
From 1936 to 1945, it housed the Hitler Youth regional leadership school (Langemarck). After the Second World War, the castle was occupied by the British and from 1947 was briefly used as a teacher training college, before being occupied by an open-air school association until October 1, 1958.
Current Use+
On January 20, 1959, a rehabilitation center for alcoholics was opened on the castle grounds. The sponsor was the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe. Today, the Westfälische Klinik Schloss Haldem is a forensic psychiatric institution for the treatment and rehabilitation of substance abusers and mentally ill offenders, with placement according to paragraphs: §64 StGB, §63 StGB, and §126 StPO (pre-trial detention).
Patients housed there undergo extensive therapy with therapists and nurses, during which they pass through several stages of relaxation. The goal is to resocialize the patients at the appropriate time, which is achieved through occupational and employment therapy, sports and movement therapy, and talk therapy.
Due to this use, a visit to the castle and clinic is only possible by prior appointment. In addition, "Open Days" (November) and "Summer Festivals" (each on the second Sunday in June) are held at regular intervals.
Buildings and Castle Park+
In its origins, the castle dates back to 1703 as a Baroque building. Due to the many changes related to its use, its appearance has changed significantly. Numerous clinic and commercial buildings have been erected on the grounds after 1960.
Modern green spaces have replaced the elements of the historic park.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 52.4389, 8.3792