Geilenkirchen can be found just over the border of the Netherlands, in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region. This city could be called the Capital of Castles as it has four old and interesting structures to visit.
The first one is the Castle of Trips. It boasts a large moat and charming courtyard. Originally built in the 15th century and renovated in the 18th, there are two-stories in the main building. The tower is quite tall at over seven stories.
The second is the Old Castle. Despite its name, it was built at the same time as the Castle of Trips. This brick structure is two-stories tall. One of the main highlights is the gatehouse from 1649.
The third one is the Castle of Breill. It is yet another two-story brick building. Its large windows are the dominating feature, along with two square towers on the western side. Be sure to visit the courtyard, stables and coach house.
The fourth (and final!) is the Castle of Leerodt. This one is a bit later than the rest, built in 1647. An entrance gate with a gable roof is one of the architectural high points. The tower is also quite impressive at just over two-stories high. You can take a stroll down the promenade, which leads into a cute courtyard.
If you haven’t yet had your fill of old castles, there are a couple other impressive houses to check out. While they are not truly “castles,” they have a definite attraction of their own.
The Haus Zumdahl is a moated Gothic residence with a large tower. Gut Muthagen is a unique farmhouse from the 17th century with a large central turret. And the multi-windowed Haus Basten is yet another example of Geilenkirchen’s interesting architectural heritage.
