Rösberg Castle

The Rösberger Castle was built in the 12th century and was inhabited in 1194 by the Counts of Are and their successors. At that time, the term "castle" was appropriate, as this complex was presumably fortified. Today, it is referred to as Schloss Rösberg.
/ In 1629, the Electoral Cologne chamberlain Gaudenz Baron von Weichs zu Glon was enfeoffed with Rösberg. The Barons of Weichs held the hereditary office of Electoral Cologne Chief Gamekeeper. They were responsible for the 12 district gamekeeper offices of the Rhenish Forest and Game Office. / Since Ferdinand Josef von und zu Weichs held a significant position at the electoral court, it was natural to let the splendor of the court shine upon the only a few miles distant Rösberg. The fact that the Westphalian baroque architect and chief building director Johann Conrad Schlaun was commissioned to design the new castle is likely related to the high regard this artist enjoyed in many circles of the nobility. Thus, Schlaun created the first plans for Schloss Rösberg. The new castle was built between 1729 and 1731. When the outbuildings burned down in April 1833 and the manor house burned down in October of the same year, it was rebuilt in 1835, in part based on Schlaun's plans. After an attack by English bombers with phosphorus bombs on the night of February 27, 1941, the beautiful castle house along with almost all of its art inventory and part of the outbuildings burned down to the massive enclosing walls. However, Schloss Rösberg has since been restored to its former glory. / As the heir of Baron von und zu Weichs, Prince zu Sayn Wittgenstein sold the complex in the 1990s and condominiums were created in the castle. The von Weichs family lived in Schloss Rösberg for over 350 years. In Schloss Brühl, there hangs a portrait from 1732 depicting Ferdinand Johann von Weichs (1695-1765) in the uniform of the Chief Gamekeeper.

Peter Van Canneyt