Antfeld Castle

Antfeld Castle is located in the town of Olsberg in the Sauerland region (NRW).

In the 13th century, a manor house existed on the site of the present castle, which was in the hands of the ministerial family von Antvelde, who served the Counts of Arnsberg. Their possession was first documented in 1259. In the 14th century, the property passed to the von Berninghusen family. In 1495, after the death of Heidenreich von Berninghausen, the inheritance was divided. One line was able to keep the property in the family possession of the von Berninghausen for about 200 years. The property of the other line came to the von Galen family via the von Berninghausen and von Ovelacker families. The architectural form of the complex is unknown.

Only Reinhard Caspar von Schade zu Blessenohl was able to reunite the possessions of both lines through purchase: in 1686 he acquired the first half of the Antfeld estate from Dietrich Ludolf von Galen, and 5 years later, in 1691, he bought the other half from Johannetta Maria von Berninghausen. In 1705, Bernhard Christof von Schade had the present castle, a baroque three-winged complex on the site of an older predecessor building, erected by the master builder Nikolaus Wurmstich from Lippstadt. The western side wing was completed in 1735 according to an inscription. The castle chapel is located on the east side of the courtyard. Around 1800, the property passed by inheritance to the von Papen-Lohe family. The construction of the outbuildings took place between 1825 and 1850.

The manor house is situated in a park, widely surrounded by a wall. The main building is a two-story, three-winged building in baroque style. The facade is relatively unadorned. The main entrance, however, is characterized by a representative baroque portal and a two-flight staircase. The portal features a broken pediment. Two lions bearing coats of arms display the coats of arms of the von Schade and von Ense families. The house has a hip roof. On the garden side, two towers with onion domes are attached. Characteristic of the castle is also its light yellow color.

An inner courtyard in front of the manor house is enclosed by farm buildings and a chapel.