Darfeld Castle

The water castle Darfeld (mainly called Schloss Darfeld, also Haus Darfeld) is a manor house, former knight's seat, former administrative seat, and a historical monument located in the parish of Netter near the village of Darfeld in the municipality of Rosendahl, Coesfeld district, North Rhine-Westphalia, at an elevation of 95 m above sea level.
It was severely damaged by a fire on October 15, 1899, and was rebuilt in its current form between 1902 and 1904. The mannerist facade facing the courtyard is primarily preserved from the construction period of 1612–1618.
The water castle is still privately inhabited today. A visit is not possible.

The castle complex consists of the main castle and a gatehouse. Both are situated on islands in a moat, which was created by the damming of the Burloer Bach stream. At the dam site, a water mill was likely erected simultaneously with the establishment of the complex, and its successor building still stands in the same place today (2012). The main castle is accessed via two bridges from the way through the gatehouse. The location in a moat served for defense, just like the construction of the gatehouse, which initially fulfilled the functions of a sally port. This concept bears a strong resemblance to the layout of Schloss Burgsteinfurt, located 17 km to the north. The original fortifications on the islands have largely disappeared due to the construction of representative residential buildings. Only the strong corner tower can be regarded as a remnant of a keep.

Outside the moat, two symmetrically aligned outbuildings face the entrance to the gatehouse. To the north, a half-timbered house with a barn door, the old forester's house, and the mill are adjacent. To the south, the castle park develops, which transitions into a forest.

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