Water Castles

WATER CASTLES

A Wasserburg or Wasserschloss is a name given to castles or palaces whose area is surrounded on all sides by moats or natural waters. Topographically, water castles belong to the type of lowland castles. In Westphalia, these trenches are also called "Gräften", in the Netherlands "Grachten".
It is possible to distinguish between moated castles protected by artificial moats or ponds (artificial protection) or moated castles whose main protection is provided by river courses or which are located on islands in ponds or lakes (natural protection).
The water is used in castles of this kind as an approach obstacle. Apart from that, the abundance of water in sieges was an advantage. Such a castle usually had only one access, which led over a drawbridge, which was pulled up in the event of an attack for protection. These water castles had a fortress-like character.

Varios Moated Castles

Here you can find various pictures of my photoexcursions. In my neighborhood are numerous old castles and palaces. I always like to visit these witnesses of the past. On this page you will find water castles. To be precise, those are MOATED CASTLES, castles protected by one (or more) ditches. Lowland castles worked very differently than hilltop castles. They did not threaten like the latter, but lay hidden behind bushes and forest. Who wanted to attack such a castle, had to approach her so close that he himself was in danger.

HAUS KEMNADE

This moated castle (Haus Kemnade) is located in the town of Hattingen, the castle is property of the city of Bochum in 1921. The first historical mentionis from 1393. Bailey and mansion are not separated by a moat, they are on a common island that is surrounded by a moat and is 125 meters long and between 50 and 80 meters wide.Parts of the castle were built during the Renaissance and baroque periods. The castle's location on the banks of the Ruhr river was changed when the flood of 1486 receded on the opposite side, cutting the castle off from the neighbouring village. The castle remained in private hands till 1921, when it was deeded to the city of Bochum. Behind the castle is a timber-framed farmhouse from 1800. The building is a typical Stiepeler farmhouse that was still used in 1800 as a dairy farm, before it was demolished in the early 1960s in Stiepel and constructed at its present location faithfully recreated.Inside is a museum (lifestyle of the 18th and 19th centuries).Since January 2007, also the registry office of the city Hattingen performs in the chapel weddings.
 The kemenade, kemenate or kemnade (lat. cemenata/caminus, ) is one of the most important rooms of a medieval castle, with a fireplace and stone chimney.
It was the warmest and most comfortable room in the castle. It was often the central hall and the bedroom above it of the castle lord and his family, in particular the place where the lady of the house was staying. The women in particular sought each other out to work and talk to each other. The kemenade was also known as the women's room. In front of the fireplace there was often a sofa with a folding backrest, so that the residents could alternately turn their front and back towards the fire.
The word kemenade is derived from the Latin word caminus, which means "fireplace", or caminata, which means "heated".

HAUS DELLWIG

Situated in Lütgendortmund (Germany, NRW, Dortmund) Haus Dellwig was since the 13th century for almost 500 years owned by the same family. After the Thirty Years' War , the surge is then almost completely destroyed and is constructed 1658-1690 again. Above the entrance portal in the tower today testifies to the crest of the family of Dellwig of the former owners. The façade and the steep tower, and two half-timbered buildings, are original. In 1988 a local museum was founded in Haus Dellwig. The exhibits include a complete kitchen, a sitting room and various workshops (bakery, hairdressers, butchers, laundry, saddler, shoemaker's workshop and carpenters).
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    • MOATED CASTLE STRUENKEDE
    A wonderful castle in Herne, in the middle of the Ruhr area.Strünkede Castle is surrounded by moats and a large pond and is one of the moated castles in the Ruhr area. Strünkede Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1243. It was built by the Lords of Strünkede, who were mentioned as early as 1142. The castle complex was equipped with towers and water-filled ditches - the moats. It was transformed into a stately palace complex at the end of the 16th century, and 70 years later it shone as an early baroque moated palace. In its current form as a castle with two wings, the complex has appeared since the middle of the 19th century.
    In the year 2018 the Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama transforms the castle into a monumental work of art. For this, the documenta 14 participant conceals large parts of the roof and the palace facade with jute sacks. In his homeland, the coarse cloth bags are the typical packaging material, with which not only food, but also coal is transported over long distances.
    With his wrapping of Strünkede Castle, Mahama also reveals the negative aspects of the coalmine outcrop. While the German collieries close, coal will still be needed and imported from other countries such as China. Although coal is cheaper, however, the working conditions of the benefacting miners are not comparable to German standards, and conditions for nature conservation are hardly met.
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