Imagine living in a castle. Schloss Eller is not just a building. It is a portal to centuries past.
Schloss Eller, originally known as Haus Eller until the 20th century, was built in 1826. It replaced a medieval moated castle in D\u00fcsseldorf’s Eller district. The former Burg Eller was the origin of the village of Eller. This village was an independent municipality until 1909.
The history of Schloss Eller goes back much further. The first mention of Burg Eller was in 1309 as “castrum Elnere.” The Lords of Elnere were an influential knightly family since 1151. They owned the largest land in today’s D\u00fcsseldorf. The family of Eller died out in 1819.
In 1424, Duke Adolf of J\u00fclich-Berg conquered the castle. He returned it to the knight Heinrich von Elnere/Eller. This return was only against a feudal oath. The Lords of Eller had to sell their ancestral seat in 1448 to Knight Adolf von Quade. Quade had the old castle torn down. He built a moated castle by 1469. This castle mainly consisted of the tower still standing today.
In 1710, Freiherr Josef Clemens von Weichs traded Burg Eller. He traded with the J\u00fclich Elector Johann Wilhelm. Johann Wilhelm was also known as Jan Wellem. He traded it for Haus Sch\u00f6nforst near Aachen. The prince turned the knight’s estate into a state domain the following year. The castle decayed and became the official residence in 1743. It became the Bergisch High Master Hunter. Finally, it served only as the residence of the district forester.
After the Congress of Vienna, the castle grounds went to the Prussian government in 1815. In 1823, they sold the dilapidated Burg Eller. They sold it to Freiherr Carl von Plessen from Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Plessen had the medieval complex demolished down to the castle tower. He also had part of the inner moat filled in. The current classicist palace was built between 1824 and 1826. This happened after the demolition of the old castle complex. The plans are attributed to the master builder Adolph von Vagedes. The landscape island park was created.
Baron Plessen sold Schloss Eller in 1838. He sold it to Johann Heinrich Wolters. Wolters was the domain councilor and treasurer of the Bergisch school fund. In 1843, Princess Luise of Prussia acquired Schloss and Gut Eller. Initially, she resisted the construction. The railway line south of the castle grounds opened in 1845.
Princess Luise lived at Schloss Eller until her death in 1882. She dedicated herself to the park and gardens. She was a talented artist. Her son, Prince Alexander, sold Schloss and Gut Eller in 1883. The buyer was Friedrich Vohwinkel, a timber merchant.
Hermann von Kr\u00fcger acquired the estate after Vohwinkel’s death. Kr\u00fcger added extensions to the main building in 1902. He also replaced the old farm buildings. In 1909, the boathouse with gardener’s apartment was newly built.
In 1938, the von Kr\u00fcger family sold Schloss Eller to the city of D\u00fcsseldorf. The city wanted to acquire new building land. The city became the legal owner in 1948.
Today, Schloss Eller serves as a venue for events. These include conferences, seminars, weddings, and receptions. The beautifully restored rooms tell stories of bygone eras. Each hall and salon reflects different periods. These highlight the personalities who shaped Schloss Eller.
Take a moment to appreciate the harmonious blend. See the classicist architecture and the medieval tower. Notice the sprawling Schlosspark Eller. It is a green oasis within the city. Schloss Eller is a testament to time. It is a place where history, nature, and culture meet.