Dringenberg Castle: a medieval residence with a museum, art and history
Built on a hill in the 14th century, the medieval castle with its 40-metre-deep well and castle chapel served as the summer residence of the Paderborn bishops until the 19th century. Today, the rooms house a natural history museum, local history rooms, the old knights' halls and constantly changing art exhibitions.A visit to the massive vaulted cellar under the south wing - the oldest part of the building from the time Dringenberg was founded - is also impressive and worthwhile.
The museum rooms display natural history and local history exhibits. The exhibits on display provide an insight into the living and working environment at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.
Art exhibitions in the southern Knights' Hall and in the vaulted cellar round off an interesting visit to the castle! A highlight is the event "Painting around the castle", an artists' meeting in the castle courtyard.
More information on the constantly changing exhibitions can be found here.
Our tip: You can learn a lot about Dringenberg and the castle on a guided tour of the castle. Many of the exhibits are linked to a story, which the castle guides will be happy to tell you.
Make an appointment. You can find the contact details for your individual castle tour here.
Make an appointment. You can find the contact details for your individual castle tour here.
Good to know
Openings
Currently closed
Dringenberg Castle is closed for the winter from November to March!
(From April 2025, Dringenberg Castle will be open again on Fridays and Saturdays from 14:00 - 17:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 - 17:30).
Guided tours are offered all year round by arrangement.
(From April 2025, Dringenberg Castle will be open again on Fridays and Saturdays from 14:00 - 17:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 - 17:30).
Guided tours are offered all year round by arrangement.
Price info
Admission to Dringenberg Castle is free of charge.
Donations are very welcome!
Donations are very welcome!
General information
Parking Available
Bus stop available
Payment methods
Entrance Free
Directions & Parking facilities
By car:
Coming from Bad Driburg, take the L954 in the direction of Neuenheerse. At the village of Siebenstern, turn left onto the road "Zur Kohlstätte" and then continue on the L820 and later on the road "Zur Dringe". In the middle of Dringenberg, turn right into Burgstraße and you will see Dringenberg Castle on the right-hand side. Parking is available around the castle.
Coming from Willebadessen, take the L828 in the direction of Neuenheerse. At Neuenheerse, turn right into Warburger Straße. Continuing on the L954, after a few kilometers turn right into Driburger Straße and follow this via Paderborner Straße to the center of Dringenberg. From there, turn right into the street "Zur Dringe" and a few meters further on you will see Dringenberg Castle on the right-hand side.
By bus:
Coming from Bad Driburg or Willebadessen, take the R54 line via Neuenheerse and Dringenberg. From the bus stop "B.D.-Dringenberg, Burg", which is located in the center of the village, it is only 50 meters to the destination.
Coming from Bad Driburg, take the L954 in the direction of Neuenheerse. At the village of Siebenstern, turn left onto the road "Zur Kohlstätte" and then continue on the L820 and later on the road "Zur Dringe". In the middle of Dringenberg, turn right into Burgstraße and you will see Dringenberg Castle on the right-hand side. Parking is available around the castle.
Coming from Willebadessen, take the L828 in the direction of Neuenheerse. At Neuenheerse, turn right into Warburger Straße. Continuing on the L954, after a few kilometers turn right into Driburger Straße and follow this via Paderborner Straße to the center of Dringenberg. From there, turn right into the street "Zur Dringe" and a few meters further on you will see Dringenberg Castle on the right-hand side.
By bus:
Coming from Bad Driburg or Willebadessen, take the R54 line via Neuenheerse and Dringenberg. From the bus stop "B.D.-Dringenberg, Burg", which is located in the center of the village, it is only 50 meters to the destination.
More information
History:
The defiant hilltop castle of Dringenberg rises mightily above the Öse valley. It was built on the 300 m high mountain cone in the years 1318-1323 thanks to the Paderborn Prince-Bishop Bernhard V zur Lippe. It served as the summer residence of the Paderborn bishops until the 19th century.
It is an irregularly quadrangular ring-walled complex, also known as a mantle castle, with a defensive tower in the north-west, a defensive wall and a large inner courtyard. A wide moat, the Zwinger, surrounds it to the east and south.
The two-storey gatehouse, dating from 1488/89, is a striking eye-catcher in the castle.
The castle fountain, dug around 1320, has always been a special attraction in the inner courtyard. It was dug about 40 meters deep into the rock in hard labor.
The defiant hilltop castle of Dringenberg rises mightily above the Öse valley. It was built on the 300 m high mountain cone in the years 1318-1323 thanks to the Paderborn Prince-Bishop Bernhard V zur Lippe. It served as the summer residence of the Paderborn bishops until the 19th century.
It is an irregularly quadrangular ring-walled complex, also known as a mantle castle, with a defensive tower in the north-west, a defensive wall and a large inner courtyard. A wide moat, the Zwinger, surrounds it to the east and south.
The two-storey gatehouse, dating from 1488/89, is a striking eye-catcher in the castle.
The castle fountain, dug around 1320, has always been a special attraction in the inner courtyard. It was dug about 40 meters deep into the rock in hard labor.
License (master data)
Bad Driburger Touristik GmbH
Nearby
Photo Gallery
