Barntrup Castle

The castle to the west of Barntrup was commissioned by Anna von Canstein, widow of the mercenary commander Franz von Kerssenbrock. During the lifetime of her husband, who made his fortune in the French Huguenot wars, the couple had lived at Kerssenbrock's manor in Lemgo. The construction of Barntrup Castle is well documented as the owner kept good records. In 1584-88 the Hamelin master builder Eberhard Wilkening created the shell, which was completed by Hans Rade from Blomberg around 1592. The two-storey rectangular building has two mighty round towers at the corners of the north side, possibly based on French models.

Their octagonal counterparts, also with curved domes, can be found on the southern front of the courtyard: a corner tower on the right and a stair tower on the left, which has been moved towards the centre and next to which a side wing was originally built. The cornices on the façades, the pilasters, the ornamented ashlars and the fluted gables are typical of the late Weser Renaissance style. An eye-catching feature on the courtyard side is the magnificent two-storey dome. The coats of arms of Canstein and Kerssenbrock and a portrait bust of the owner crown the tower portal; above the cellar entrance is a relief of a cupbearer. The main portal and staircase date from the 19th century. The castle is still owned by the family.