Botzlar Castle

Botzlar Castle is the remains of a moated castle in the town of Selm in the district of Unna in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Originally, Botzlar Castle was owned by the Lords of Meinhövel, who also called themselves von Botzlar from 1250 onwards. Its first explicit mention in written sources dates back to 1282 and took place on the occasion of the transfer of the castle to the Bishop of Münster. Subsequently, they expanded Botzlar into a border castle against the Counts of the Mark. In a feud between Wulf zu Wulfsberg in Lüdinghausen and the Count of the Mark, the castle was destroyed in 1305. In 1369, the restored complex was once again conquered and destroyed by the Counts of the Mark. In 1315 the castle was pledged to the von Münster-Meinhövel family. It remained in their hands until 1597, when it passed to the von Ascheberg family by inheritance. The castle and the surrounding areas had their own manorial court, which merged with the episcopal court in Werne in the 15th century. Around 1750, the Counts of Landsberg-Velen zu Gemmen succeeded the Ascheberg as owners. During the time of National Socialism, a Gauschule Westfalen-Nord of the National Socialist Women's Association was located in the castle. In October 2013, a community foundation bought the castle from the city of Selm for 600,000 euros.

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