Vischel Castle

Vischel Castle, often also referred to as Vischel Fortress or Vischel House, is a moated castle in the Vischel district of the municipality of Berg in the Ahrweiler district (Rhineland-Palatinate). It is located above the Vischelbach valley between Berg and the Kreuzberg district of Altenahr.

The castle, which is privately owned, is a protected monument.

Today's Vischel Castle possibly dates back to a moated castle from the 9th century. In the Prüm Urbar, a register of goods of Prüm Abbey from the year 893, extensive goods with a manor house are listed in Vischel (Wizssele). In the 11th century, the abbey ceded its goods in Vischel to the Counts of Are in exchange. Vischel Castle was destroyed in 1115.

In 1246, this property fell to the Electorate of Cologne through donation, which remained the owner until the capture of the Left Bank of the Rhine by French revolutionary troops (1794) and the later annexation of the territory.

The current moated castle, possibly standing on the old foundations, was built around 1829. The stately residential building has five axes with a central risalit facing the courtyard.

Since the estate was no longer inhabited by the then lords themselves from the beginning of the 20th century, it was leased and was used for agriculture until 1983, together with the surrounding meadows and fields.

Through complicated successions, the castle came into the possession of the Imperial Barons Holzschuher von Harrlach, an old Nuremberg patrician family, in 1968, after the death of the then lord of the castle of Gymnich, Count Rudolf de Maistre.

Since 1984, the estate has been extensively restored. The stables and barns were rebuilt while retaining the old facades, silos and equipment shed were demolished. The manor house was prepared for accommodating guests and party societies. Overall, the estate now serves more representative purposes.

The former moat has been without water since the beginning of the last century and has lush vegetation. Three coats of arms are affixed to the castle facade: those of the de Maistre and von Gymnich families, and that of the House of Wolff-Metternich.