Germany · Restored
Anholt Castle
Anholt Castle (Wasserburg Anholt / Schloss Anholt) is a large moated castle in Isselburg, North Rhine‑Westphalia, long held by the House of Salm‑Salm. The ensemble combines a massive medieval round keep with extensive Baroque remodelling around 1700 and formal parterre gardens; today it is a private residence, museum and public park after post‑war restoration.
Its prime
1703
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1703
The shape it held in its prime.
A broad island castle set in a wide, water-filled moat fed by the river Issel; a dominant round keep (the "Dicke Turm") capped by a tall, slate-clad spire rises above an otherwise low, rectilinear complex of rendered façades scored to resemble ashlar. Slate mansard roofs with rows of dormer windows unify the wings, which form an inner courtyard reached by a straight causeway and gate bridge; formal French parterres sit on a separate planted island linked by footbridges.
Its story
The story of Anholt Castle.
Anholt is one of the largest and best preserved water castles in western Germany, dominated by its massive round Dicke Turm keep and encircled by a broad water defence fed by the river Issel. First documented in the late 12th century as a stronghold of the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht — a Lord of Zuylen "of Anholt" appears in 1169 as a vassal of Bishop Godfrey van Rhenen — it developed into the imperially immediate Lordship of Anholt.
When the Anholt branch of the Zuylens died out in 1380, castle and lordship passed via the heiress Herberga to Hermann III of Gemen, and in 1402 by another marriage to the Bronkhorst-Batenburg family, whose rights Emperor Sigismund confirmed in 1431. The Guelders Wars thrust Anholt into the struggle between Duke Charles of Egmond and Maximilian I: Charles attempted a coup against the castle in 1499 and returned with a full siege in 1512, and Dietrich III von Bronckhorst only negotiated its recovery in 1537 at the price of heavy war contributions.
From 1647 Anholt was the hereditary residence of the princely House of Salm-Salm, and around 1700 Prince Charles Theodore of Salm transformed the medieval fortress into a stately home with formal gardens and unified façades under slate roofs. Seventy per cent destroyed in 1945, it was meticulously restored and now serves as private residence, museum and park, housing the state's largest privately owned art collection, with works by Rembrandt, Jan van Goyen and Gerard ter Borch.
Step inside
10 places to explore in 1703.
The record describes 10 distinct spots at Anholt Castle — including 3 interiors: state rooms / principal reception interiors, picture gallery, armoury / display of arms. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Anholt Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1703 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →Whose castle
Clans who held Anholt Castle.
The families that held Anholt Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Zuylen
A Lord of Zuylen "of Anholt" appears from 1169 as a vassal of the Bishop of Utrecht; the Anholt branch died out in 1380.
Gemen
Passed in 1380 via the heiress Herberga van Zuylen to her husband Hermann III of Gemen.
Bronkhorst
Held from 1402 through Margaretha of Gemen's marriage to Gysbert of Bronkhorst-Batenburg; rights confirmed by Emperor Sigismund in 1431.
Salm-Salm
Hereditary residence of the princely House of Salm-Salm from 1647.
