Höllinghofen Castle

The first documented mention of “Hullikinghouon” in 1036 is historically debated. Reliable information about the forest estate, which belonged to the Patrokli Abbey in Soest, dates back to the 14th century. In 1371, it came into the possession of the Barons von Fürstenberg, but by 1382, it belonged to Knight Honann Freseken, who subsequently adopted the name “von Höllinghofen.” Through inheritance, the estate returned to the House of Fürstenberg in 1414. A line of this family owned the property, now referred to as a castle, until the end of the 16th century. It changed hands multiple times, including Wilhelm von Bayern, an illegitimate descendant of Elector Ernst von Bayern, who from 1615 called himself “Reichsfreiherr von Höllinghofen.” In 1749, the Barons von Kanitz sold the castle to Friedrich Wilhelm von Droste-Füchten, whose heirs resold it in 1753. In 1754, the Barons von Boeselager acquired the estate, which thereafter served as a hunting residence. Since 1920, Höllinghofen Castle has been the main seat of the von Boeselager family and is currently owned by the family of Baron and Baroness von Ketteler-Boeselager.