Wasserschloss Herten
In the midst of the old English Landschaftspark, directly on the brink of the city centre of Herten, the 1376 for the first time documented Wasserschloss Herten is located. Since its redevelopment in the 70th the castle of Herten belongs to the loveliest monument in Nordrhein-Westfalen.
The castle and the park are acting as a backdrop for federal important cultural events of the region since then, like the cultural festival Ruhr, the Schlosskonzerte of Herten and the Whitsun art market, which solely attracts several thousands of visitors annually.
The main castle of the Wasserschloss is a brick building, surrounded all around by a moat. It still reveals its importance as an example of architecture of late-gothic times. The castle was documented in 1376 for the first time. Still relicts of a massive heap in the east part of the north wing in design of a pillar with a gothic cross-vault testify the defensive character of the formerly small castle complex. In 1529 Bertram von Nesselrode Erbkämmerer of the duchy Berg acquired the castle by marriage.
This apparently political important man -1539 till 1556 he was “kurkölnischer” proconsul in the Vest Recklinghausen- continued the construction of the house. About 1530 a quadrangular closed castle with corner-towers evolved, which are still remaining. At the same time a rectangle-rampart with corner bastion was constructed. Through this fortification it was possible for the castle to withstand a siege during the Truchess war. During this time the large hall in the east wing arosed, whose ceiling was perspectively painted. This painting, rediscovered during the restoration works, is without precedent in Westphalia.
Presumably before the middle of the 16th century the courtyard side of the north wings was embellished to a show facade. The later on prefabricated conservatory and the baroque modification after 1687 destroyed the jewellery architecture in fact, but during the renovation enough traces became obvious to discover a gallery construction. The investigation of Prof. Mummenhoff, Minster showed that octagonal stair towers were standing in the edges of the east and west wings. They were combined by a nine axial gallery in the medium level, which rested on a plinth of nine open, round arched barrel vaults in the basement.
Above each arch there was a stone cross window with semicular and discharging arches. It’s the same scene in the upper floor, though with lower windows, which were crowned by two discharging arches. During the restoration of the facade, the conservation of this few relicts of the probably earliest constituted show facade of Westphalia was considered. The courtyard facade of the south wing with its pillar gallery represents its opposite.
In 1687 a serious fire destroyed parts of the north and south wing. The rebuilding by the baron Franz von Nesselrode lasted until 1702. During this building phase the hall chamber in the southern part of the east wing was embellished new with a baroque fireside and a stuccoed ceiling. At the same time the entrance portal at the west wing was built. Since that time the appearance of the main castle stayed the same. Presumably between 1850 an 1870 the upper floor of the south wing –like the rest of the castle the south wing was two -storeyed- was cleared away.
The castle of Herten had a particular importance among the local region. His owners were heavy hitters and senior officials. Franz von Nesselrode was ennobled to imperial earldom in 1702, whereby he achieved chair and voice in the Reich Assembly. Nearly for 300 years the family provided proconsuls for the “kurkölnische” Vest Recklinghausen until the 19th century. The castle of Herten served as a residence. The certainty of the years after the First World War determined the comital family to clear the castle of valuable inventory and to relocate the residence. The castle was extensively uninhabited since then.
In the aftermath the owner tried in vain to find an adequate use. Furthermore the complex decayed more and more. It is due to a happenstance that an expedient use after extensive restorations could be realized through the initiative of the regional authority. Today the castle forms a classy framework for top-class concerts, many exhibitions and cultural events.
At least a literary tip:
Schlosspark of Herten – Ein kleines Stück vom Paradies
The authors Dr. Friedrich Duhme and Gregor Spohr are telling the story of the castle and park point out the botanical preciousness and invite to a tour through this piece of paradise. The photographer Wolfgang Quickels captured the atmosphere of the park in all seasons.
The book was released in 1997 by the bookshop Droste. (ISBN 3-89355-909-4)