Schönau Castle

Schloss Schönau is a small moated castle in the Aachen suburb of Richterich.

The area around Schönau was transferred by Emperor Frederick II to Heinrich von Aachen as property in 1244. Heinrich von Aachen, previously treasurer of Aachen, founded the family von Schönau, who, after acquiring the castle and lordship of Schönforst in the first half of the 14th century, also called themselves von Schönforst.

In 1396, Schloss Schönau and the surrounding area became a fief of the Duchy of Jülich. It remained as a sub-lordship in the possession of a branch of the von Schönau family and was inherited by the von Millendonk family, who owned it from about 1450 to 1695. Through marriage, the sub-lordship came to the von Blanche family. The attempt by Johann Gottfried, immediate Baron of the Holy Roman Empire von Blanche, Schönau, Fronenbroch, Hörstgen etc. Dynast in Hüls etc., to regain imperial immediacy for the area around Schloss Schönau failed, and Gottfried von Blanche ended up in the dungeon of Jülich Castle in 1759.

Through family connections to the von Blanche family, Arnold Carl Maria von Broich (1797–1873) acquired Schloss Schönau. His son Carl Arnold Maria Freiherr von Broich (1835–1907) was the last owner of Schloss Schönau from the von Broich family.

The current buildings predominantly date from 1732. The castle was built on the foundations of a formerly water-surrounded, late medieval three-wing complex with a two-wing outer bailey. It was constructed of brick on a stone plinth. The master builder was Laurenz Mefferdatis, commissioned by Johann Gottfried von Blanche. The windows and door openings were decorated with interlocking bluestone frames. The entrance is located in a central, gabled risalit. In the 19th century, two stylistically adapted wing buildings were added on the park side. Today, the castle belongs to the city of Aachen and is used as a restaurant.