How old is Schloss Gymnich?

The first fortified house was built in 1354, torn down in 1399, and rebuilt on a different spot, with the surviving wings dating from the 16th to the 18th century.

Who owned Schloss Gymnich?

It belonged for centuries to the von Gymnich family, then passed by inheritance to the counts Wolff Metternich and later to the de Maistre family.

Was Schloss Gymnich used as a government guest house?

Yes, from 1971 to July 1990 it was rented to the West German federal government as a guest house, hosting guests including Erich Honecker in 1987.

Where does the term Gymnich meetings come from?

It refers to informal meetings within European Political Cooperation, the first of which took place at the castle in April 1974 while it served as a guest house.

Schloss Gymnich

Gymnich Castle

Erftstadt

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Where: Erftstadt

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Schloss Gymnich stands in Erftstadt (Rhein-Erft-Kreis), in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The building is a listed Baudenkmal. Recorded dating: 14th century. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

Schloss Gymnich is a moated castle in the Erft floodplain at Erftstadt, first built in the 14th century and long the seat of the Rhenish noble family von Gymnich. The west wing, rebuilt in baroque style after being destroyed in 1642, and the north wing added in 1722 and fitted out in rococo style in 1738, together form a two winged complex linked to an outer courtyard by a bridge. Highlights include the Kurfürstensaal with portraits of the electors and a marble cabinet featuring a portrait of Empress Maria Theresa. Used as a guest house by the West German federal government until 1990, and the namesake of the so called Gymnich meetings, the estate stands within an extensive park of native and exotic trees.

What to know

The castle is surrounded by a moat and stands within a park of more than 20 hectares.
Access is via a tree lined driveway leading from a gate set back from the village's main street.
The building is listed as a Baudenkmal in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The site was long used as a residence and later as an official guest house, which shaped parts of its interior over time.

Practical information

Visit duration: Not verified
Wheelchair access: Not verified
Dogs: Not verified
Parking: Not verified

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Where this château is

Erftstadt · Rhein-Erft-Kreis · Nordrhein-Westfalen

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Balkhausener Str. 2, 50374 Erftstadt

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Château phone number

+49 2235 4019050

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3.9 / 5from 24 Google reviews

Heritage status: Baudenkmal in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Period of construction: 14th century

In pictures

Frequently asked

How old is Schloss Gymnich?: The first fortified house was built in 1354, torn down in 1399, and rebuilt on a different spot, with the surviving wings dating from the 16th to the 18th century.
Who owned Schloss Gymnich?: It belonged for centuries to the von Gymnich family, then passed by inheritance to the counts Wolff Metternich and later to the de Maistre family.
Was Schloss Gymnich used as a government guest house?: Yes, from 1971 to July 1990 it was rented to the West German federal government as a guest house, hosting guests including Erich Honecker in 1987.
Where does the term Gymnich meetings come from?: It refers to informal meetings within European Political Cooperation, the first of which took place at the castle in April 1974 while it served as a guest house.