A beautiful zoo with an adventure trail, an idyllic center with listed buildings and its own visitor center with exhibition space: the many small attractions in the immediate vicinity make Raesfeld Castle a special excursion destination.
As you take a leisurely stroll through the cozy streets of the municipality of Raesfeld, the stone giant, which towers far above other buildings with its onion-domed roof and weather vane, automatically catches the eye. As the tallest castle tower in Westphalia at over 52 meters high, it is one of many unique features that characterize Raesfeld Castle.
Although the beautiful complex with its chapel, outer and main castle is now known far beyond the borders of the Münsterland region, it is still a real insider tip as a destination for those interested in culture and nature lovers. Today's adventure and educational site, whose history dates back to the beginning of the 12th century, offers everything that explorative travelers could wish for.
Former town with restricted rights
The castle complex is surrounded by a historic liberty, a former small town with restricted rights, where courtiers and servants of the castle lords lived at the beginning of the 18th century. Today, holidaymakers will find small shops with a personal atmosphere in the center, as well as larger restaurants and hotels.
As part of the expansion from a castle to a palace, Imperial Count Alexander II von Velen had a Renaissance-style zoo built in the west of the grounds from 1653. After having run wild for centuries, it has been freely accessible again since it was revitalized in 2004. Hikers and cyclists now use the wooded recreational area as a starting point for exciting tours in the Hohe Mark Nature Park. Families can learn about the landscape on an educational trail, take a look at an old mill ruin behind the castle or let off steam on a climbing and balancing trail.
Issel spring and Femeiche
If you need more details about leisure activities in and around Raesfeld, you can visit the castle's own visitor center with exhibition space. The team will be happy to provide information about nearby attractions such as the Issel spring or the Femeiche, the oldest known court tree in Central Europe. Of course, guests can also find out more about the castle's history or events such as the local book and Advent market.
