Rheindorf Castle (Leverkusen)

As early as the mid-13th century, Haus Rheindorf was first mentioned in documents and referred to as a "fortified house" of the Counts of Berg. Haus Rheindorf was a manorial estate eligible for the regional assembly, whose owners were born members of the Bergisch Landtag. It has been proven that since 1555, the respective owners of Haus Rheindorf participated in the Landtags in Düsseldorf.

After 1600, the Katterbachs von Diepental became the landlords in Rheindorf. Through marriage to Catharina, the Katterbach daughter, Junker Johann-Wilhelm von der Juden, from the well-known old Cologne council family, came into possession of the Rheindorf house. In 1723, a Baron von Cortenbach, subsequently the von Wyhe family, around 1824 a Baron von der Rhoer, and in 1894 a Caspar von Heinsberg zu Wevelingshofen were the lords of Rheindorf. Since the early 1920s, the estate has been in bourgeois ownership.

In 1944, it burned down completely due to war damage, leaving only the outer walls. As early as 1947, the former farm wing and the former entrance area of the castle were rebuilt. A lack of understanding among those responsible and a shortage of monument preservation funds prevented the already planned reconstruction of the older parts of the complex, despite the commitment of a citizens' initiative. In 1958, for safety reasons, the remains of the still preserved outer walls of the main wing had to be removed down to the foundations, and the vaulted cellars filled in.

Today, only the rebuilt north wing, as well as the outer walls with the courtyard gate and the remains of the former courtyard entrances, remain.