Ovelgönne Castle (Eidinghausen)

Ovelgönne Castle is a moated castle built in the 17th century south of the Wiehen Hills, located in the Eidinghausen district of the city of Bad Oeynhausen in the Minden-Lübbecke district.

The Ovelgönne estate was first mentioned in a document in 922, making it one of the oldest noble residences in the Minden-Lübbecke district. Ovelgönne was owned by Abdinghof Monastery in Paderborn. In 1126, the estate was mentioned as a "small estate in Edinhusen". Pope Lucius III confirmed the monastery's ownership in 1183.

As part of an exchange agreement, Bishop Dietrich of Minden received the estate and the mill on August 28, 1353. On July 13, 1362, the estate, as well as Haddenhausen Castle, was pledged by Bishop Gerhard of Minden to Ludolf von Mönnichhusen. His descendants were the lords of Ovelgönne for many years. As ransom, Ovelgönne was pledged to Simon and Bernhard von Lippe in 1400.

Around 1458, the estate was first called "Ovelgünne". Agnes von Münchhausen, daughter of Albert, who had been married to Bernd von Reden-Pattensen since 1550, became the heiress of Ovelgönne in 1587. Later, Bernd von Reden-Pattensen was mentioned as the owner of Ovelgönne. He called himself Lord of Ovelgönne Pattensen. His son Bernd Ernst von Reden was Landdrost of Minden. His grandson Bernd Ernst von Reden was a canon in Minden. The estate remained in the possession of the von Reden and von Schloen families until 1733. The last owners appointed the Catholic mission in Vlotho as heir in 1733.

In 1738, Johann Friedrich von Weißenfels bought the estate and completely renovated it in 1740.

In the following years, ownership changed frequently. From the mid-18th century, the original estate was expanded into a baroque complex. In the first half of the 20th century, the castle increasingly fell into disrepair. In 1940, the municipality of Eidinghausen therefore bought the property for 50,000 Reichsmark. After the war, the house served, among other things, as a retirement home. In 1981, the city of Bad Oeynhausen began converting Ovelgönne Castle into a community center.