Schloß Bloemersheim

Schloss Bloemersheim is a moated castle near Neukirchen-Vluyn in the Wesel district. It stands on ground once split between the Duchy of Guelders and the County of Moers, with the boundary running through the kitchen. The present buildings grew from a late medieval water fortress that had two drawbridges and served as a refuge in wartime. The castle passed through several noble families before 1802, when Friedrich Heinrich von der Leyen bought it for 17,000 thalers. The von der Leyen family turned it into their family seat and added the present park and gardens. In 1816 the Prussian king raised the family to the rank of Freiherr, and in 1837 they became founder members of the Rhenish knighthood. The castle itself opens only for rare cultural events, but the back wall and moat can be seen from a popular cycle path beside the pond. Behind the water lies the working farm and orchard that keep the estate economically alive. The surrounding countryside offers flat, green rides for cyclists who want a quiet view of this historic moated house.