Hövelhof Castle

The origin of the hunting lodge and the municipality of Hövelhof is closely linked to the "Hövelhof", which as the original Hövelhof farm dates back at least to the year 1000. The farmhouse stood in today's Wichmannallee. The "Hövelhof" was first mentioned in a tax list in 1446. The farm burned down in 1903. As the then owner of the "Hövelhof", Prince-Bishop Dietrich Adolph von der Recke built a hunting lodge on the farm's land in 1661. About four acres were cut from the "Hövelhof" lands for this princely estate. The former hunting lodge and current rectory of the Catholic parish of St. Johannes Nepomuk is a listed building and often serves as a Hövelhof landmark for various publications and is also a popular photo backdrop.

As the then owner of the "Hövelhof", Prince-Bishop Dietrich Adolph von der Recke built a hunting lodge on the farm's land in 1661. About four acres were cut from the "Hövelhof" lands for this princely estate.

Several outbuildings were built around the actual hunting lodge: stable, kitchen, and a gatehouse with a drawbridge. The entire complex was surrounded by a water-filled moat to emphasize its stately character. Around 1960, the remains of the moat were filled in.

Von der Recke did not live to see the completion of his hunting lodge. He died in 1661.

In the years 1705/06, the first Hövelhof church was built on the large open square in front of the castle (in the area of today's Senne Pharmacy). The Catholic parish was founded as early as 1715. In 1782, a larger house of worship was erected on the site of the current parish church. With the founding of the parish, the foundation stone for the emergence of the political municipality was also laid. In 1807/08, Hövelhof gained political independence through the then French government in the Kingdom of Westphalia under Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte.

The former hunting lodge and current rectory of the Catholic parish of St. Johannes Nepomuk is a listed building and gladly serves as a Hövelhof landmark for various publications and is also a popular photo backdrop.