Travelling through the Munsterland in the west of Germany, it's easy to feel as if you'd been transported back into the heyday of princes and barons. Over 3000 mansions and castles, many of them surrounded by water, are said to have once existed in Westphalia.
In the Munsterland alone you can still admire more than 100 of these magnificent buildings. One of the largest and most elegant is the castle of Nordkirchen, which was built by Prince Bishop von Plettenberg in 1703. He modelled his splendid palace on Versailles, in the French neo-classical style of the day. The Sports Castle Velen Activity Hotel furnishes proof that castles can be equally attractive to the energetically inclined. With opportunities ranging from riding to archery, and from golf to paddling, the activities available in these princely surroundings are more than varied. Furthermore, we are visiting Raesfeld Castle with its impressive moat and Anholt Castle, where you can dine on a meal fit for a king.
Tourist-Information Munsterland
Hohe Schule 13
D-48565 Steinfurt
Tel: +49 (0)2551-939228 (-91)
Fax: : +49 (0)2551-939293
Additional sources of information:
Schloss Nordkirchen
Schloss 1
D-59394 Nordkirchen
Tel: +49 2596-933402
Fax: +49 (0) 25 96-91 71 39
SportSchloss Velen
Schlossplatz 1
D-46342 Velen
Tel: +49 2863 - 203-0
Fax: +49 2863 - 203-788