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5 Burg Vischering
North Rhine-Westphalia; 59348
Burg Vischering (open daily) is one
of the oldest and best-preserved
castles in Münsterland. Founded in
1270, it was extended in the 16th
and 17th centuries. Across a draw-
bridge from agricultural outbuild ings,
the for mid able U-shaped palace
retains its loop holes (arrow slits in
the walls) and battle ments. The
castle also has fea tures of early
Renaissance palaces with its Oriel
win dows, gables, and the sand stone
fireplaces inside its painted halls.
Walk through the surrounding
woodland for pic ture-postcard views
of the castle reflected in the moat.
ª Return to the B58 and follow signs
to Nordkirchen. Follow signs from the
town center to “Wasserschloss”.
Parking is available at the castle.7 Burg Hülshoff
North Rhine-Westphalia; 48329
The writer and poet Annette von
Droste-Hülshoff, the most celebrated
member of the aristocratic Hülshoff
Dynasty, was born at Burg Hülshoff
in 1797. The castle’s ground floor
(Feb–Dec: open daily) is a shrine to the
writer, who is regarded as Germany’s
very own Emily Brontë – both writers
died unmarried and pen ned somber
tales steeped in their personal
trage dies. There are splendid views
of this Renaissance manor rising
from its moat from the adjoin ing
park, restored to recreate the gardens
in which Hülshoff found inspiration.
ª Return to Roxel, turn left on to
Roxeler Strasse to Münster. Continue
on Einsteinstrasse and Wilhelmstrasse,
turn right at the B219 junction. Park
in front of Schloss Münster.Revolution in Münster
Religious disaffection during the
Reformation led to one of the most
colorful episodes in Münster’s his-
tory. A fundamentalist Anabaptist
regime seized control of the city in
1534, with a Dutchman named Jan
van Leiden at its head – money was
made obso lete, property communal,
and poly gamy a duty. However, the
city was recap tured in 1535 and van
Leiden and his lieutenants were
executed and their bodies hung
in cages from the Lambertikirche
spire as a warning to others.6 Schloss Nordkirchen
North Rhine-Westphalia; 59394
The vast, moated Schloss Nordkirchen,
(open Sun) nicknamed the “Westphalian
Versailles,” is a perfectly symmetrical
French Baroque castle. It was designed
by the German architect Johann
Conrad Schlaun (1695–1773) as an
aristocratic status symbol. Now aWHERE TO STAY IN MÜNSTERMartinihof inexpensive–moderate
A simple but good-value modern
hotel above a pub, the Martinihof is
situated close to Prinzipalmarkt.
Hörsterstrasse 25, 48143; 0251 418 62;
http://www.hotel-martinihof.de
Hof zur Linde moderate
Located on the riverside in the
Handorf suburb, the Hof zur Linde
is a traditional hotel with modern
furnish ings and fittings.
Handorfer Werseufer 1, 48157; 0251
327 50; http://www.hof-zur-linde.de
Mauritzhof moderate
A boutique hotel on the ring road
around the city center, the Maurtitzhof
has a designer look that compensates
for its compact standard rooms.
Eisenbahnstrasse 17, 48143; 0251 417
20; http://www.mauritzhof.de
Schloss Wilkinghege expensive
Historic style meets modern comfort
in the individually decorated rooms of
this 18th-century Wasserschloss.
Steinfurter Strasse 374, 48159; 0251 14
42 70; http://www.schloss-wilkinghege.deBACK ROADS GERMANY
Above left Burg Vischering, a magnificent
moated castle Above right Wooden doors
of the Überwasserkirche, Münster Below
Quiet road leading to Münsterschool of finance, it has Baroque
gardens (open daily) sprinkled with
white statuary.
ª Return to Lüdinghausen to reach
the B235. Past Senden, turn right
toward Albachten. Once past Roxel,
turn left to park at Burg Hülshoff.Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €70; moderate, €70–€150; expensive, over €150