Schloss Nordkirchen

Schloss Nordkirchen, often called the "Westphalian Versailles," was built between 1703 and 1734 for the Prince-Bishops of Münster, most notably Friedrich Christian von Plettenberg, who wanted a residence that reflected the power and wealth of the Prince-Bishopric. The palace rises from a broad rectangular island surrounded by a formal canal, with four symmetrical corner pavilions connected to the main corps de logis by curved arcades. The state rooms on the piano nobile include the grand staircase with marble balustrades, the Marble Hall with its stuccowork and ceiling frescoes by Italian artists Giovanni Battista and Giovanni Francesco Marchini, and the Fürstensaals (prince's rooms) with their original Baroque furnishings. The park is one of the most important Baroque garden ensembles in Westphalia, originally laid out in the French formal style with parterre, hedges, and fountains, then sensitively overlaid with English landscape elements in the 19th century including a lake, woodland paths, and a temple. The orangerie, one of the largest in Germany, hosts concerts, exhibitions, and wedding receptions. The palace today houses the University of Münster's finance and economics faculty, but the state rooms, gardens, and orangerie are open to the public. Nordkirchen is 30 km south-west of Münster and accessible by regional bus from Lünen or Münster.