Friesdorf Castle

The Burghaus Friesdorf dates back to the 12th century. It is one of the oldest residential buildings in the Rhineland, and its walls are up to 2 m thick in the basalt foundation. It was probably initially the noble seat of the Knights of Friesdorf, who were first mentioned in documents in 1139 and last in 1328. The tower house was formerly called Turmhof (tower farm) because the residence included outbuildings. The old church of Friesdorf also stood there until 1888, and the cemetery was next to it. In the 14th century, the tower house became the property of the Benedictine Abbey of Siegburg. The administrator was one of the so-called "Viermänner" (four men) who supervised the Kottenforst forest. Siegburg Abbey granted the Turmhof as a fief. The fief was coveted because the knight's estate was associated with a seat in the Electoral Cologne Landtag. At the end of 1944, the tower house was severely damaged by an aerial mine and rebuilt as a residence.