Donk Castle (Vorst)

Haus Donk is a small former moated castle in Tönisvorst in the district of Viersen. The name Donk is a term for a buildable, elevated place in a swampy area.

The origins of Haus Donk, for a long time a Cologne electoral fief, date back to 1259. A predecessor building was probably originally erected by the Franks on an artificially created hill, a motte. In the following centuries, further additions were made, including a Renaissance tower built around 1550. The manor house visible today is only part of the old manor house, which was about three times larger. The former moated castle was considered a border fortification of the Cologne electoral office of Kempen against Jülich and Geldern. In the 19th century, the castle was destroyed and rebuilt in the 1970s. In the 90s, Haus Donk was completely restored by the architect Dipl. Ing. Georg Rütten (Alicante - Spain) according to the regulations of monument preservation.

From 2004 to 2007, Haus Donk was the residence of the US national football goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who played for the Borussia Mönchengladbach team.