The Alte Dorf Westerholt
The Alte Dorf Westerholt with its 58 partly in a very good condition and mostly listed frame houses is always worth a trip. Lovely designed front gardens and windows are attracting as well as the numerous inscriptions on the beams, which tell many a story about the past of the old village.
About 400 citizens are living in this 6,5 ha large city centre today. The “liberty” includes the Schloss Westerholt, the village and the former circular embankment. In spite of the strong influence of the mining, which find his way into Westerholt in 1907, the entire complex kept its appearance. From the castle, and from the 19th century on from the Schloss Westerholt the dynasty of the earls of Westerholt zu Gysenberg ruled.
The castle was documented in 1047 for the first time. In the voluminous register of goods of the abbey Werden an “Unterhof in Westerholt” is listed, which yielded four shilling. In 1193 also two Messieurs of Westerholt were documented for the first time.
The one or two storeyed frame houses, which were restored according to the historical ideal, were put up all around of the in 1930 firstly documented parish church St. Martini. The settlement was fortificated with ramparts and a ditch and accessible by gates in the north and southeast. The Mühlpforte in the south-eastern area had been completely reconstructed after a fire in 1995. The Freiheitspforte in the north in contrast was completely teared away in 1873.
In 1991 the Alte Dorf Westerholt was declared a historic monument. About 56 frame houses were listed. After vacancy for years the castle was rebuilt to a hotel and restaurant. There you can let unhurriedly sink in the historical castle-atmosphere with coffee and cake or exquisite meals. It is also the home of the golf club Westerholt.