Sinzig Castle

The origins of the current castle date back to 1337, when a moated castle of the Dukes of Jülich-Berg was mentioned at this site. This complex, located outside the then city fortifications, was converted into a castle between 1569 and 1574, but suffered severe damage in 1689 during the War of the Palatine Succession. Only remnants of the moat system and a round tower survived. In the mid-19th century, between 1854 and 1858, the current Neo-Gothic slate quarry stone building was erected according to plans by architect Vincenz Statz. The Cologne merchant Gustav Bunge had the castle built as a summer residence after acquiring the property in 1850. Bunge's initials can still be seen on the weather vane of the tower. The interiors were designed by his brother-in-law, the history painter Karl Christian Andreae. The estate later passed to Bunge's daughter Johanna. In 1954, the city of Sinzig became the owner of the building, and after renovations, the local history museum and the city archive moved in in 1956.