Lüdinghausen is one town that is perfectly capable of taking its cultural offerings to the next level… and then cranking it up one more notch.
How many castles can YOU handle in day… or a week? This is the place to put that to the test. The test is composed of multiple elements.
Yet first you have to survive the most famous attractions, the water castles. Water castles earn their names because they don’t bother with full-scale traditional moats, opting for lakes and ponds instead. In Lüdinghausen there are three you must see.
The first is one of the largest castles in all of North-western Germany, Burg Vischering. It lacks the height and turrets of other famous German Castles, but don’t let its relative shortness deceive you. Touring the castle and grounds will wear you out, so try to do a loop that put you back at the main part of the building, where there is a refreshment bar.
The next famous castle is Castle Kakesbeck. 1200 years old, it has a really massive water defense system — 30,000 square meters or about 10,000 square feet! You’ll want to ask here about the legends of the Iron Collar and see if you can get shots of the ducks on the water.
There is also the Castle Lüdinghausen, whose water defenses are now part of the town park greens. It’s been remodeled a few times, but maintains a very Renaissance look. Inside there is a modern art exhibit and cultural center.
Trying to see all three of these thoroughly in one day may overwhelm you. And, scheduling only one day will cause you to miss out on the 6 lesser castles, the dozens of churches, and the old town area.
You’ll also miss the finer details, like the statues in the garden spaces that are actually some of the massive fossils discovered in the area.
It’s hard to believe that so many castles and their accompanying grounds could be crammed into such a small zone. Yet seeing is believing… or at least attempting to see enough to imagine how the rest will be!
For added bliss, make your tour in the summer, when the 10,000 roses of Lüdinghausen Sepp Rader Rose Garden will be in full bloom.