Wietersheim Castle

Wietersheim Castle is a castle in the Wietersheim district of the city of Petershagen in the Minden-Lübbecke district. It is located about nine kilometers north of Minden directly on the eastern bank of the Weser at river kilometer 210 on a middle terrace in front of the village of Wietersheim, surrounded by sandy meadows. The building is now privately owned.

The castle complex was built in 1323 and used for centuries as a manor and commandery of the Order of St. John. This use ended with its sale to the Minden Cathedral Chapter. Due to its geographical location on the border of the Principality of Minden with the County of Schaumburg, Wietersheim Castle was frequently involved in border disputes and was consequently often destroyed.

The original complex consisted of half-timbered buildings. The later built chapel was constructed in solid masonry and converted into the current building around 1810. A compact, octagonal building in the Neoclassical style was created.

Baron Carl von Schlotheim lived in Wietersheim. He was married to Félicité-Mélanie née Legarde, a biological daughter of Jérôme Bonaparte. The King of Westphalia appointed her "Countess of Wietersheim" in 1810. Carl von Schlotheim became district administrator of the Minden district and was considered the road builder of the district. His son Eduard Ernst Franz Johann Freiherr von Schlotheim grew up at Wietersheim Castle.

After the Second World War, the castle belonged to the area in the Amt Windheim zu Lahde that was confiscated for the accommodation of DPs from May 1945 to February 1949. During this time, the building was severely damaged. Reconstruction could only begin after the confiscation was lifted.