Schloss Nörvenich

Schloss Nörvenich in 2009

Schloss Nörvenich is a schloss in Nörvenich near Cologne, Germany.

History

The schloss was established in around 1400 by Wilhelm von Vlatten and was remodeled on numerous occasions over the centuries.

The building c. 1860

In the 15th century, the property fell through marriage to Konrad Scheiffart von Merode-Bornheim. Wilhelm Scheiffart von Merode and his wife Agnes von Bylandt enlarged the house in the middle of the 16th century to the West Wing.^[1] At the end of the 16th century, the castle fell through marriage to Baron Johann Otto von Gymnich, whose family remained in possession of it until the 19th century. It then passed to Count Wolff-Metternich von Gymnich, and became known for a period as Schloss Gymnich.

Just before the Second World War, the schloss was taken over by non-aristocratic owners, and since that time it has repeatedly changed hands.

By 1967 the castle was being rented by Christoph Vohwinkel, whose fortune came from the coal industry. Vohwinkel planned to renovate the castle and turn its specious rooms into an art centre.^[2] The sculptor Ulrich Rückriem lived and worked here from 1963 to 1971. In early 1968, Can set up their own studio in the castle's upper hallway, which they called The Inner Space. The band recorded several albums, including Monster Movie, Soundtracks, and Tago Mago. They played noisy and chaotic music, which often disturb other tenants, and by the end of 1971 the band decided to move out.^[3][4] The building now houses the Museum of European Art.

In 1982, the Landesmuseum Bonn excavated the site and unearthed the remains of an earlier fortress, measuring about 11 feet (3.4 m) by 25 feet (7.6 m) and dating to around 1350 plus medieval pottery.^[5] This earlier structure is believed to have been demolished down to the foundation in 1400 to enable the construction of a new, larger building.

Architecture

The current two-storey mansion dates to the 18th century, and stands on a high basement. It has a heavy tiled hipped roof and dormers and Gothic brickwork. Around 1950, the greater part of the roof collapsed, and the building underwent extensive restoration. A number of rooms feature richly designed stucco ceilings in the Regency style, with allegorical figures and the arms of the former aristocratic owners commonplace.

References

1. Fahne, Anton (1866). Geschichte der Grafen, jetzigen Fürsten zu Salm-Reifferscheid, sowie ihrer Länder und Sitze: nebst Genealogie derjenigen Familien, aus denen sie ihre Frauen genommen (in German). J.M. Herberle. p. 115.
2. Young, Rob; Schmidt, Irmin (2018). All Gates Open: The Story of Can (e-book ed.). London: Faber and Faber. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-571-31151-4.
3. Young, Rob; Schmidt, Irmin (2018). All Gates Open: The Story of Can (e-book ed.). London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-31151-4.
4. DeRogatis, Jim (1 January 2003). Turn on Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 273. ISBN 978-0-634-05548-5.
5. "Schloss Nörvenich/Gymnicher Burg" (in German). Noervenich.de. Retrieved 25 January 2015.

Literature

• K.H. Oleszowsky: „Burgen und Schlösser der ehemaligen preußischen Rheinprovinz“ (Alexander Duncker) damals und heute, (2012/13) ISBN 978-3-00-042292-8
• Stefania Ney: "Lebendige Heimat" Museumsführer für den Kreis Düren; 2013 Edition winterwork. ISBN 978-3-86468-546-0
• Henk Verbeek: „Land an der Rur", Baudenkmäler und europäische Geschichte entlang des Flusses Rur in Belgien, Deutschland und den Niederlanden; 2014 Edition „Kunststrom Rur“ Gemeinde Allendale, NL.

50°48′30″N 6°38′45″E