Burg Castle

About

Built in the 12th century for the Dukes of Berg, the family ruled from the castle for several centuries, slowly growing in stature. By the the end of the 15th century, they ruled over a huge region of northern Wesphalia, and eventually moved their seat of power to Düsseldorf. Their ancestral home of Burg Castle was left to fall into ruin, being cannibalized for stone in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, the local citizens wanted to restore their regional landmark, so set up the “Castle Construction Association” to raise funds. By 1919 the restorations were mostly completed. Today, the castle is like a self-contained village, where a variety of shops and restaurants are nestled up to the heavy fortified walls. Visitors can walk through the castle’s passageways on their own, and go to the museum, or sign up for a guided tour on weekends for an even more in depth look at its history.