History

In 1017 Henry II gave large areas of land to Paderborn cathedral and in that way imposed on the Lords of Lembeck an oath of allegiance to the cathedral.

In 1190 the Lords of Lembeck built a defensive tower (called “Motte”), on marshy terrain approximately in the area of today’s north wing of the main castle. These foundations can still be traced within the fabric of the castle. Over the following 450 years the tower was gradually extended into a fortified medieval castle. The s