Alte Burg (Düsseldorf-Unterrath)

The Alte Burg, also called Große Burg, once stood as a small medieval motte-and-bailey castle beside the Kieshecker Weg in Unterrath. It rose in the Kittelbach valley after large clearances in the early Middle Ages. Around the old royal estate nearby, several noble manors appeared, including Haus Hain, Heiligendonk and Volkardey. Most of these later became tenant farms, but the Alte Burg remained a free holding. Today the site shows no visible traces above ground. Historians Heinz Baumgarten and Monika von Wrisberg have recorded old photographs of Unterrath that include the area. Heinrich Ferber’s 19th-century study lists the Große Burg among the knightly seats in the Angermund district. Kai Niederhöfer’s 2010 guide describes the motte’s layout and surroundings in detail. All three works confirm that nothing of the walls or mound remains visible now. Visitors walk along quiet paths beside the former moat and earthworks. The flat meadows of the Kittelbach valley stretch away on every side. No plaque or marker stands on the spot, yet the low rise in the ground hints at the vanished tower. The scene is peaceful, with only the sound of wind in the grass and distant traffic from the city.