Castle Moyland

[Gabi]

During the medieval, Germany was splintered in infinite small and smallest areas, which were governed through the aristocracy. At the so called “Niederrhein” in the northwest of Germany, till today a lot of smaller castles and moated castles are existing in a very good condition. Apart of the personal use of the today’s owners, several locations were opened to the public – either in function of museums of the original form and use, either in form of museums with other topical emphasis, either for gastronomic special highlights.

A region at the Niederrhein offers various leisure-time facilities – Xanten with the reconstruction of a Roman colony by use of the original excavations there, Kevelaer with a beautiful medieval town center as place of pilgrimage, Kalkar with a very special attraction: a former nuclear power plant has been reconfigured to a “Waterworld” for sports and fun…

….and in Bedburg Hau Castle Moyland with its parks and exhibitions. The park ways with wonderful old trees invite for resting and admiring the various sculptures in classical and modern style.

In the middle of the 14. century Moyland has been constructed – 1665 it has been extended as a baroque moated castle from Alexander von Spaens.

Beginning the 18. century, the castle changed into the property of the Prussian crown. In 1740 Moyland attained celebrity, when Friedrich the Great there met together with the French philosopher Voltaire. It is documented that between the both an intensive friendship came up, which also found its impression in a special guest-room which Friedrich the Great arranged for Voltaire in castle Sans Souci in Potsdam close to Berlin.

In 1766 the castle went into the possession of family von Steengracht, who re-arranged Moyland beginning 1856 through Ernst Friedrich Zwirner (master of cathedrale construction from Cologne) in the till today gothical style.

The 2. World War however also left castle Moyland in a ruin-similar condition. Until this time, the inheritors of the van Steengrachts lived there, but already have opened the parks for the public.

After a decompose over several centuries the castle was restored beginning 1987 – in 1997 it was re-opened as a museum.

Today there are to be admired the private collections of the brothers van der Grinten under the bord of trustees of a donation (the country NRW, Fam. van Steengracht and Gebr. van der Grinten ); among others the most important collection of Joseph Beuys. In the main building of the castle these enormous exhibits are to be admired on 5 floors. I personally don’t like so much this way of presentation. The individual work does not virtue at all – it seems to me that quantity is set over quality.

Actually the castle accommodates a high-interesting special exhibition: “Rembrandt over the borders”. Round about 60 Rembrandt original etchings are presented and compared to the works of English artists of the 19. century.

But this technical skill of Rembrandt to make pictures alive without colour no other work could approach.

After about 3 hours art benefit it was a pleasant recreation for me to walk through the parks and to admire the castle from all sides.

It was a wonderful afternoon with lots of impressions, with new cognitions and pleasure in architecture, history, arts and nature.

Location, opening times and actual exhibitions under:
http://www.moyland.de

Please don’t hesitate to ask me, if more details are requested.

Thanks for your attention and interest !


Gabi

[Denis]

Wow! That's a really grandiose castle, Gabi! It's a real shame I've never come across it before! *blush*

I assume the original construction built in the 14th century has suffered significant changes throughout history, since it looks like a sumptuously exquisite edifice now. It is an interesting case indeed! The basic structure seems imposingly protective, while the smaller towers with spires (which I suppose were added later), the many gothic windows, as well as the elaborate decorations make it look truly lavish! Magnificent building!

By the way, I can see that the pictures are copyrighted to "GD". So, have YOU taken them all? ... 'cause they are of awesome quality!

[Gabi]

Hi Denis,

you're right ! The small towers have been added from Zwirner in the 18th century !

Germany has about 600-700 of those smaller castles which mainly date from the medieval. Along the Rhine you find plenty of those "ruins", but in the country side lots of these castle still exist and are still used.

It is my very private interest - as I like castles too much - to show them. The royal castles as Neuenschwanstein, Herrenchiemsee, Nymphenburg etc. are known more or less to everybody, but these small "treasures" of history, architecture and arts are, even for germans, quite often unknown.

Generally Denis, the pictures I publish are always taken by myself ! Even those I have to take inside a location from paintings there and which I have to use - in the case of Moyland f.e. - to show the change during the centuries etc. !

Always on tour to "treasures" ... as our history is part of us ...
... Gabi