Is it just me or does Schloss Westhusen exude an aura of timelessness? This moated castle in Dortmund’s Westerfilde district whispers tales from centuries past. Schloss Westhusen began its story in the 14th century. Gerlach Specke of the Bodelschwingh family built it around 1332. Over time Schloss Westhusen passed to the Vittinghoff family through marriage. Eventually, the von Sydow family acquired it. They significantly remodeled the manor house in the 19th century. This gave Schloss Westhusen the look we see today.
Imagine the scene in 1388. The Great Dortmund Feud rages. Schloss Westhusen is destroyed. Yet, the owners rebuilt it demonstrating resilience. In 1469, Cattin von Westhusen’s marriage brought the castle to Wilhelm von Vittinghoff. His family owned it until the 17th century. War struck again. The Thirty Years’ War left Schloss Westhusen in ruins. But in 1620, Arnolda von Thulen and her husband Ludolph Lutter von Hoete zu Bögge inherited it. They promptly renovated Schloss Westhusen to reflect their status.
The von Hoete family held Schloss Westhusen until 1743. Sophie von Geuder genannt Rabensteiner brought it to Friedrich Wilhelm von Sydow through marriage. He significantly remodeled the manor house around 1750. Between 1853 and 1856, the von Sydow family constructed the estate’s farm buildings. From 1886 to 1888, they transformed the manor house in the popular neo-Gothic style. Before that in 1809, the castle chapel was torn down.
In 1913, Conrad von Sydow sold Schloss Westhusen to the Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-AG. The GBAG drained the castle moat which was fed by the Nettebach. Schloss Westhusen underwent restoration from 1974 to 1979. In the 1980s, a workshop for people with disabilities occupied the grounds. In the late 1980s, Schloss Westhusen was converted into a senior citizens’ residence which opened in the summer of 1992. During the conversion, the southern part of the outer ward buildings was demolished and replaced with a new structure.
Notice the simple manor house. Look at the two long buildings to the east. These once served economic purposes. Today, they house senior apartments. The two-story manor house rests on a foundation of 350 oak piles. Its two stories are painted yellow. A gabled roof tops it off. Light-colored corner blocks and window frames contrast with the walls. Green shutters adorn the windows. The north and south sides feature stepped gables with small gable windows.
A polygonal tower rises from the middle of the eastern facade. It’s taller than the rest of Schloss Westhusen. This tower dates back to the 1880s. A bridge leads to the portal in its ground floor. Above the portal are the coats of arms of the von Sydow and von Plettenberg families. A small terrace sits at the southeast corner of the manor house. A low wall with battlements surrounds it. A small polygonal watchtower stands on the southeastern corner. Today, Schloss Westhusen serves as the Alloheim Senioren-Residenz. But every August, the grounds come alive for the Dortmund Classic Days. Classic car enthusiasts gather to admire vintage automobiles. For those seeking romance, the castle’s wedding room is available for ceremonies every day except Sunday. Schloss Westhusen blends history, care, and celebration into a unique experience.