Wittringen Castle

The first documented mention of a noble family named “von Wittringen” dates from 1263, when Knight Ludolfus de Witteringe was named, who is considered the probable builder of the original castle. In 1347, Ludolfus' grandson Philipp von Wittringen enfeoffed the estate to Count Dietrich of Kleve. Since Philipp had no male heirs, the property came into the possession of Heinrich von Brachtbecke through marriage, whose family later adopted the name “von Wittringen”. The castle changed hands several times, including the von Oeffte and von Capellen families. The Thirty Years' War left traces in 1642 when Hessian mercenaries plundered and destroyed the complex. Reconstruction took place around 1650.