The remains of the Castle can be visited
RuinArdey
Ardey Castle (Ruin)
The ruin of Ardey Castle is located in the Ardey district of Fröndenberg in the Unna district in North Rhine-Westphalia. Only a few wall remains and trenches are preserved.
The ruin is situated on a wooded hillside near Ostardey, south of Ardeyer Straße and east of the confluence of the Ostholzbach with the Ruhr. South below the castle runs the railway line from Fröndenberg to Unna.
The lordship of Ardey was owned by the nobleman Rabodo von Rüdenberg. With him, the Rüdenberg family died out in the male line in 1170. His heirs were his sisters Wiltrud and Luitgard von Rüdenberg with their husbands, the brothers Everhard and Jonathas von Wiclon/Wicheln. They built the hilltop castle, which was first mentioned in a document in 1176, and from then on called themselves Lords of Ardey. The line of Jonathas was last mentioned in 1318. Later, the Counts of the Mark laid claim to the inheritance.
Legend+
The legendary knight Embert, possibly Count Engelbert III, probably came from this family. According to the legend, he had to flee from the besieged fortress. In his haste, he threw his valuables into the well, which reached down to the level of the Ruhr. The ruins of the castle conquered by the enemies buried the well and the treasure. According to the legend, a light burns over the treasure at night, and during the day, a hen with her chicks guards the spot.
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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 51.4738, 7.7330