Horn Castle

Horn Castle is a well-preserved town castle in the Lippe town of Horn-Bad Meinberg.

The castle is located in the district of Lippe on the eastern edge of the Eggegebirge mountains. It is situated directly on the northern edge of the medieval town center of the Horn district at an altitude of approximately 230 meters above sea level. The district town of Detmold is 8 kilometers north-northeast and the nearest major city, Bielefeld, is 34 kilometers northwest.

The exact construction date of the castle is not known. The town of Horn was systematically laid out around the year 1248. The new town was fortified in the following years and received a town wall. Presumably, the first parts of the castle, which was integrated into the town wall, were also built at this time during the construction of the town wall. The first mention of the castle occurred in 1326 as a stone house in connection with a chapel of St. Mary. The completion of the castle took place in 1348.

The castle was built as a defensive and residential complex by the nobleman Bernhard V zur Lippe and served the family, who later called themselves Counts zur Lippe, among other things as a residence, administrative building, widow's seat, granary, and official prison.

The castle and its owners were repeatedly involved in warlike conflicts, for example in the years 1444–1449 during the Soest Feud. It is not known whether the castle, in addition to the town, was also affected during the Thirty Years' War. In the years 1656–1659, a renovation was carried out by Count Hermann Adolf zur Lippe, during which baroque stylistic elements were also added. Particularly striking is the baroque staircase with the portal and a curved hood. Above the portal, the year 1859 can be read, and the family coats of arms of the builders can also be seen.

In the 18th century, the now insignificant castle fell into disrepair, so that parts of the tower and the third upper floor of the residential building had to be demolished. It was not until the years 1983 to 1989 that the complex was extensively restored and partially rebuilt in three construction phases. The keep thus regained its third upper floor and was roofed. The tower was rebuilt on its old foundations.