If you think of Weilerswist in North Rhine-Westphalia you would hardly think about a town that once belonged to Spain — especially when it’s only around 27 km or 15 miles from Cologne.
Through marriages, war, and inheritance the area of Weilerswist came under the control of Spain for more than 250 years.
You’ll definitely be able to see Spain’s influence in the area when you visit the “spanish” town hall in the Lommersum district, known as Spanisches Rathaus, which was built in a Baroque style sometime in the beginning years of the 1600’s.
Oh sure, the small town as we know it today is comparatively young, having been formed with its surrounding 13 villages only since 1969. It is, however, much older dating back more than ten centuries. There’s even evidence of Roman influence.
Such as in the case of the Swister Tower, the remains of an old pilgrimage church, built in the first two decades of the 1100’s. What makes the Swister Tower so remarkable is the 12th century tower that was built on 9th century church ruins. The archeological finds show the first church built on top of a Roman Heiligtum.
Also thanks to grand German engineering, Weilerswist is home to not one, but three castles still standing today.
Sadly for us, at the Burg Bodenheim you’ll only be able to see the outside of this one, since it’s now a private residence. It was, however, uninhabited in the 19th century and completely restored today, but gone is the castle’s chapel and moat. The history of this particular castle dates to foundations from the year 950 and the castle was built into two different parts.
Wasserburg Kühlseggen is a real gem, sadly the 15th century plans of the original castle are gone to time. The castle did lay in ruins for some time but is restored today with a gorgeous large garden.
The Burg Klein Vernich is another castle in Weilerswist but the youngest of the three, having been built only some time at the turn of the 18th century replacing the original structures.