Bentheim castle and family

Date: 2020 [unknown]
Location: Bentheim, Germany
Surnames/tags: Graafschap Bentheim Castle Bentheim von Bentheim

Bentheim castle and family

The medieval Bentheim Castle (Burg Bentheim) is the largest hilltop castle in North-West Germany and was first mentioned in the year 1050, it's located in Bad Bentheim in the Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony.

Bad Bentheim

The castle is built of sandstone blocks. This sandstone also bears the name of the place: Bentheimer sandstone. Hidden in the forests of the Bentheimer Wald are some old quarries. The Bentheim Sandstone was once mined here. Not only for the castle in Bad Bentheim, but also for almost every church in the area, part of the Dom tower in Utrecht, the palace on Dam Square in Amsterdam and for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in New York. The carved sandstone was transported by horse and carriage to Carelshaven in Delden. This is now a restaurant, but in the past the Inn at a small harbor where the blocks of stone with small boats were transported trough specially constructed channels towards the Regge, which again ended up in the IJssel. The rock walls are between 25 and 35 meters high.

Bentheimer wald, Bentheimer sandstone

The counts and kings of Bentheim and Steinfurt have owned the complex for more than five centuries. The oldest known owners were Otto II von Rheineck (circa 1115-1149) and his mother Geertruid von Northeim. Through the marriage of Otto's sister Sophia van Rheineck to Count Dirk VI van Holland zu Bentheim it was inherited by their younger son Otto zu Bentheim. In the fourteenth century, by inheritance, the van Güterswyk family became the new owners, they later called themselves von Bentheim. Steinfurt Castle was added to the property by marriage. The castle is still inhabited but the fortifications and some historic reception rooms are open to the public. The living area is inhabited by the noble family zu Bentheim und Steinfurt.

To enter the castle, one passes two gates. The lower gate dates from the thirteenth century. The upper gate was designed in the seventeenth century by the Dutch architect Philips Vingboons (1614-1679).

In 1650 Bentheim was visited by the artists Jacob van Ruisdael and Nicolaes Berchem, who both captured the castle in various paintings.

Ansicht der Burg Bentheim von Nordwesten, by Jacob van Ruisdael

Between 1752 and 1804, Bentheim was pledged to the Elector of Hanover. Since 1804 it belongs again to the van Bentheim family, who since 1817 can call themselves Fürsten zu Bentheim und Steinfurt.

Bentheim family

Wikitree profiles from or related to the 'zu Bentheim' family (looks like a lot are still missing, but have to look for them all a bit more):

Sources

See also:

• Landkreis Grafschaft Bentheim (includes links to sources for families from this area) WikiTree freespace page created by Bertram Sluys

• Grafschaft Bentheim, Burg Bentheim The castle in 360° - Die Burg in 360°

• Kasteel Bentheim (Burg Bentheim) by Guus Pauwels

• flight over Bentheim castle

• Bentheim castle tour

• Wikiwand Grafschaft Bentheim