Germany Burg Linn

In the 12th century, the nobleman Otto von Lynn built a residential and defensive tower measuring 8.5 x 14.5 meters. This replaced a wooden watchtower protected by palisades and a moat, which had already existed around the year 1000. In 1188, Otto von Lynn sold the castle to the Archbishop of Cologne. After his return from the Third Crusade, von Lynn further expanded the castle according to Byzantine models. In the 13th century, the von Lynn family died out. In 1264, the archbishop granted the castle to the Counts of Cleves. In 1388, the archbishop terminated the fiefdom. From then on, the castle served as the administrative seat for the Electorate of Cologne's Amt of Linn.

In 1478, the castle received a second outer ring wall and a new moat. During the Thirty Years' War, the space between the inner and outer ring walls was filled in. The reinforced outer ring wall served as protection against potential attackers and cannon fire.

By 1581, a new outer fortification was built, which was replaced in 1620 by an even stronger one with five bastions. Thus strengthened, the castle was able to withstand the siege by Hesse-Kassel for four weeks before it was finally captured. The conquerors continued to expand the complex between 1643 and 1645.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the castle was severely damaged by fire in 1702. After another fire in 1704 and a devastating lightning strike in 1715, the castle was completely gutted and abandoned by the Linn district. From 1728, the castle was considered a ruin. Only the keep served as a prison until 1794.

Around 1740, the winery was converted into a hunting lodge by Elector Clemens August. In 1806, the castle and hunting lodge came into the possession of Isaak de Greiff, a silk manufacturer from Krefeld. The descendants of the de Greiff family sold the castle ruins and hunting lodge to the city of Krefeld in 1924. After the Second World War, the castle was overgrown and gradually fell into disrepair. It was partially restored in the 1950s, and the roof was finally renovated in 1993. Linn Castle now houses a museum and is open to visitors.

Parking Lot Burg Linn