Imagine yourself transported back to the year 1600. Schloss Elbroich rises before you. This former knight’s seat now serves as office space. It sits nestled in the green embrace of Park Elbroich. The park lies between the Wersten and Holthausen districts.
Schloss Elbroich boasts a rich history. However, much of its early story is lost. The Elbroich archive was destroyed during World War II. Despite this loss, fragments of its past remain.
Around 1189, the Lords of Teveren sold Düsseldorf and some estates to the Counts of Berg. This included Allod Elbroich. In the 15th century, the property passed to the Lords of Eller. Georg von Neuhoff acquired Elbroich on April 10, 1589. He paid 6,500 talers. Around 1600, Elbroich was rebuilt. It largely retains this form today. In 1679, the castle came to the Lords von der Horst through marriage.
Some additions and alterations occurred in 1748. The year on the gate commemorates this time. Nicolas de Pigage landscaped Schloss Benrath’s gardens in 1760. This dried up Elbroich’s moat. The Itterbach, which fed the moat, was diverted. It then supplied the new electoral palace’s fountains. The park expanded in the 19th century.
Christian Gottfried Trinkaus Senior became the owner of Elbroich in 1852. At the time, owning this knight’s seat granted a seat in Prussian district and state parliaments. It was without election. Alice Trinkhaus inherited the castle. She was the daughter of Christian Gottfried Trinkaus Junior. It then became the property of Hermann Heye through her dowry. Hermann was the son of Ferdinand Heye. Ferdinand founded the Gerresheimer glassworks.
Hermann Heye purchased more land nearby in 1895. He entered the real estate business. This led to the founding of Industrieterrains Düsseldorf-Reisholz AG. Today, the city owns it. In 1954, Hermann Heye’s heirs gifted the castle and park to Caritas. Caritas established an educational center for children with developmental disorders in the castle. The children’s home closed in the summer of 1972. Caritas then used it as a vocational school for social pedagogy. It also served as a specialist seminar for elderly care. The Geriatric Hospital Elbroich was built on the grounds in 1980.
In 1989, Caritas sold the castle to a consulting company. Today, the old manor house trains consultants and service providers. It is a management center. As you stand here today, you can still sense the layers of history. Imagine the families who lived here. Think of the children who played in the park. Schloss Elbroich remains a testament to Düsseldorf’s evolving story. It blends historical significance with modern use.
Take a moment to appreciate the blend of past and present before we continue.