A whisper of history echoes around Haus Langen. This former knight’s estate sits nestled in Westbevern, southwest of Telgte. It borders the Haus Langen nature reserve, a protected area of 31 hectares.
Haus Langen owes its name to the Knights of Langen. The oldest document mentions the Bishop of Muenster’s feudal dominion in 1150. The first documented mention of Langen Castle is in 1276. Bishop Everhard von Diest of Muenster completely destroyed it. It wasn’t rebuilt then. The estate passed to the von Letmathe family in 1378 through an heiress. During the Thirty Years’ War in 1622, the rampart served as a refuge for Westbevern farmers.
In 1702, Bernhard Engelbert Christian von Beverfoerde-Werries inherited the property. His son, Friedrich Christian, adopted the son of his friend Friedrich Clemens von Elverfeldt. This made him the heir. The estate then came into the possession of the Elverfeldt family, called von Beverfoerde zu Werries.
Initially, the watermill was used as an oil mill. By the end of the 19th century, it ground grain exclusively. The mill operated until the 1960s. The artist Otto Pankok lived and painted briefly at Haus Langen in the summer of 1935.
Haus Langen is often mistaken for the watermill. Today, it is a popular destination for cyclists and walkers. The adjacent forest and the Ems meadows are ideal for recreation. Haus Langen is also a stop on the EmsAuenWeg.
The Rheinisch-Westfaelisches Urkataster plan from 1829/30 shows a facility bordering the Bever to the east. Two concentric moat rings enclose it. The core castle stands as an irregularly transverse oval island. Originally, a moat completely surrounded it. A manor house located here was demolished in the early 19th century. Today’s Haus Langen is on the middle of three small islands west of the core castle.
It was likely a building of the former outer bailey. The oldest parts date back to the early 17th century. Before 1830, a kitchen annex in timber construction expanded it to the east. The outbuildings date from the mid-18th century. A mill belonging to the castle was first mentioned in 1276.
Today, only the gatehouse remains of the old castle complex. It is a typical Muensterland brick gable house. Also, there is a coat of arms of the Lethmathe family. The present double mill dates back to 1813. It was in operation until 1950.
So, as you stand here, imagine knights and farmers seeking refuge. Picture the mill grinding grain. Haus Langen stands as a testament to centuries of Westbevern history, a peaceful destination.