The moated castle of Frenz

After the extinction of the noble family of the Lords of Frenz in 1303, the former underlordship of Frenz passed into the possession of the princely family of Merode (Rikalt I) during the period from 1361 to 1393.

As the old castle complex on the castle hill by the church had been destroyed, Rikalt III and Rikalt IV began to build a moated castle. began to build a moated castle in the valley of the Inde.
The moated castle and the former dominion of Frenz remained in the possession of the Princes of Merode until 1826. Then the site was inherited by the rentmaster J. W. Gräf.

From 1840 it is owned by the Aachen factory owner Charles James Cockerill.

In 1916, Gustav Kreuder, a leather manufacturer from Langerweh, became the new lord of the castle.

The following pictures give an impression of the heyday of the moated castle as well as its decline.

In November 1944, the castle was heavily destroyed by the advancing American army.

In September 1956, Rhein-Braun-AG took over the property and had the ruins demolished in 1964. Only the economic wing remains (last picture, right side).

Since the early 1960s, the Radermacher, Stollwerk and Gatzen families have shared the site of the former moated castle.