Arloff Castle

Bad Münstereifel, Germany, Germany

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Arloff Castle in Bad Münstereifel, Germany, is a well-preserved medieval fortified structure situated on the banks of the River Erft in the Arloff district of North Rhine-Westphalia.

First documented in 1278 when granted as a fief to nobleman Gerlach of Dollendorf by the Archbishop of Cologne, it features early Gothic elements like thick defensive walls, corner towers, and an original water system channeling river water into a moat for protection.

Its standout central residential tower from 1269, built over an older vaulted cellar with dendrochronologically dated original beams, exemplifies rare early Gothic defensive architecture in the Rhineland, now accessible for visitors exploring its grounds amid farmland and Eifel hills.