CastleArnsberg-Voßwinkel

Höllinghofen Castle

Höllinghofen Castle

To be privately owned

Höllinghofen Castle is a moated castle in the Voßwinkel district of Arnsberg.

Historically disputed is its first mention in a document by Emperor Conrad II from 1036, which refers to Hullikinghouon. Reliable information about the forest estate, which belonged to the feudal lordship of the provosts of the Soest Patrokli Abbey, has been available since the 14th century. In 1371, it came into the possession of the Barons von Fürstenberg. Already in 1382, the complex was owned by the knight Honann Freseken from Neheim, who from then on called himself "von Höllinghofen". Through inheritance, it returned to the possession of the House of Fürstenberg in 1414. A Höllinghausen line of the noble house owned the estate, which was now also referred to as a castle, until the end of the 16th century.

In the following centuries, it was then owned by various foreign noble families. Among them was Wilhelm von Bayern, who since 1615 also called himself "Reichsfreiherr von Höllinghofen". He was an illegitimate descendant of Elector Ernst von Bayern from the House of Wittelsbach and his mistress Gertrud von Plettenberg. Wilhelm von Bayern later entered the clergy and finally died as Prince-Abbot of Stablo and Malmedy in 1657. Other owners included the Barons von Kanitz, based in Silesia. They sold the property in 1749 for 78,500 thalers to their neighbor Friedrich Wilhelm von Droste-Füchten. His heirs were forced to sell the castle again for the same price in 1753. In 1754, Höllinghofen thus passed to the Barons von Boeselager. The purchase included, in addition to the noble residential building, the estate, mills, lands, and all feudal rights. Since the purchase, Höllinghofen became the hunting residence of the family, who otherwise had their ancestral seat in Hamm-Heessen (Heessen Castle) and was originally an archiepiscopal-Magdeburg family. In 1920, Höllinghofen Castle with its 7-hectare historic park became the main seat of the von Boeselager family. Today, the property is owned by the family of Baron and Baroness von Ketteler-Boeselager, who are also co-owners of the nearby Wildwald Voßwinkel.

Architectural Development+

Little is known about the buildings of the complex for most of its development. A plan from the second half of the 18th century shows the manor house as a rectangular building without wings. In 1765, it was completely destroyed by fire but was rebuilt on the old foundations – which date back to the 16th century. Possibly, the construction of two side wings also took place in this context. A major renovation took place in 1865 in the historicist-Romanesque style. Further additions and alterations were made in 1924. The main building is now partially covered with ivy.

In addition to the main house, some other buildings are now also listed as historical monuments. These include the St. Benedictus burial chapel, located in the extensive rhododendron park of the castle, which was completed in October 1923 and serves as a family crypt. Here also rests Csilla Baroness von Boeselager, who died in 1994 and was the founder of the Hungarian Maltese Service. In addition, there is the so-called "New House" from the 18th century and the farm buildings, including the Rentamt, a half-timbered house in the classical style from 1833.

The building consists of three wings of unequal size. The estate includes a castle park in the English style. Building on older elements, its current form dates back to the 1920s and 1930s.

In the 1960s, the castle and park – like the nearby Herdringen Castle – served as a backdrop for Edgar Wallace films.

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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: http://www.zeche.org/

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: 51.4739, 7.9053