Harkotten von Korff Castle

The origins of the complex date back to the 14th century. Between 1297 and 1309, Heinrich II von Korff, a vassal of the Diocese of Münster, had a moated castle built to secure the borders with the Diocese of Osnabrück. After his death in 1334, his sons Heinrich and Eberhard divided the property, resulting in two separate manor houses. The eastern part went to Heinrich von Korff-Smiesing, the western to Eberhard. The outer bailey, mill, courthouse, forester's lodge, brewery, and the castle chapel built from 1311 remained in joint ownership. After the Korff-Smiesing line died out in 1615, their share of the complex passed to the von Ketteler family through an heiress.