Much to Discover in Brüggen
Brüggen is a modern community with a bright future, but also a place steeped in history. Visitors can discover evidence of the past in many places. Carefully preserved, these restored pieces of our heritage help define the character of this hospitable community today.
Brüggen Castle
Brüggen Castle and its mill are first mentioned in a document from Christmas Eve 1289. In the middle of the 14th century, the castle was expanded into a fortress with four towers and the buildings between the towers were raised to their current height in the 17th century. As a country castle, Brüggen Castle remained the northernmost border fortress of the Jülich duchy from 1494 to 1794. It was privatised by the French government in the year 1801 and remains in private hands today. In 1974, the municipality of Brüggen leased the castle for the hunting and natural history museum opened in 1979.
Schwalm Gate, Old Tollhouse
The fortified Schwalm gate – one of the two original gates to the fortress of Brüggen – led to Dutch-Spanish territory after crossing halfway over the former Schwalm border river. From the Schwalm, the size of the former fortress gates can be seen to this day by the size of the frame. The tollhouse and court chamberlains office were also located at Schwalm gate. The current layout of the court chamberlains office dates back to 1770.
Historic Brüggen Town Hall
The current seat of the municipal administration is a former convent of the Kreuzherren order. The original convent along with the library burned down in 1751. Starting in 1756, the Kreuzherren order rebuilt the structure in the late Baroque style still visible today. In 1801 the convent was secularised under French rule, meaning it lost its church status. The first mechanical silk weaving mill in continental Europe commenced operation there in 1840. Among other things, the building later served as an orphanage, school, post office and pastorate.
Kreuzherrenkloster (Convent)
The Kreuzherrenkloster in downtown Brüggen included the St. Nicholas Minster, the convent as residential and functional wing, a kitchen and supply wing, outbuildings and a Latin school. In 1751, parts of the two-storey convent burned. The Kreuzherren order rebuilt the structure in the late Baroque style still visible today starting in 1756. It is now the town hall.
Brüggen Mill
Along with the Brüggen Castle, the Brüggen Mill is first mentioned in a document dating back to 1289. It served as an oil and grain mill. Two water wheels powered by the Schwalm operated a mill work for grain and a hammer mechanism for oil production. The mill was privatised in 1801 and remained in operation until 1955.
Dilborn Castle
We do not know when Dilborn Castle was built. It is first mentioned in 1363 under the ownership of the Seger family of Schwalmen, who received it under a tenure from Count Edward of Geldern. Gerhard von Elmpt built a new house in 1583 and Count Palatine Julius von Schaesberg-Thannheim acquired the moated castle in 1854.
Today the outer bailey installations are still visible, a two-storey brick structure dating back to 1752 with a mansard roof and three-storey forward corner towers. The old castle expanded in 1583 faced this structure, but was torn down – probably in 1850 – so that only gardens are found here today.
Bracht Mill
The Bracht Mill was constructed in 1855 and acquired by the Oude Hengel family in 1903. In 1925, the wooden sails broke during a severe storm and an electric drive system was installed. Grain was ground here until 1970. The municipality of Brüggen bought the building in 2002.
The “Trägerverein Heimatmuseum Brachter Mühle e. V.”, an association responsible for the mill and the museum of local history it houses, was founded in November 2003. In the meantime, the functionality of the mill work has been restored. Members of the association organise tours of the mill and rotating local history exhibitions, open houses in the summer months and the popular Bracht Mill Festival in October.
Please visit www.brachter-muehle.de
for more information.
Brüggen Klimp
Brüggen Klimp was the local name for the railroad that ran between Brüggen and Dülken starting in 1890. The line was mainly built for the purpose of transporting roofing tiles and clay pipes produced in the vicinity of Brüggen. Passenger trains ran until 1966 and the final freight train ran in 1975. In 1981, the old Brüggen railway station was expanded and turned into a hotel with the popular name of the former railroad..
Weißer Stein
The Weiße Stein (white stone) was a medieval court of justice or bar. Located out of doors, seven jurors headed by a mayor ruled on property purchases, inheritance settlements, easements, mill rights and weights. Today two restaurants serve a multitude of guests.
Brüggen Saint Nicholas Parish Church
Today’s Saint Nicholas Minster was built between 1479 and 1484 to replace the Saint Nicholas chapel, which included a bell tower and was destroyed in 1473. Its successor was constructed as a brick hall and so-called parish church in the style of the mendicant order churches. While the original gothic church burned in 1751, the exterior walls remained standing. It was rebuilt as a baroque hall church by 1756.
Catholic Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Bracht
A Church of Our Lady in Bracht is first mentioned in a document from the year 1166. The current basilica with three naves was built in the German gothic style in the year 1484. Uniform and high-quality furnishings in the late baroque style from the 18th century with the high altar, two side altars, the pulpit and choir stalls constitute a noteworthy feature.
Born Parish Church of Saint Peter
The Born Parish Church of Saint Peter is first mentioned in a document from 1136. It was expanded by an addition to the choir in the German gothic style in 1433/34. The baptistery is made of Namur bluestone from the 13th century. It was the parish church of Born and the old town of Brüggen until 1804. Today it is the parish church of Born.
Bracht Evangelical Church
The baroque house church of the reformed community of Bracht was dedicated in 1699 after 12 years of construction. In 1874, the ridge turret with two bells was added to the structure. The Bracht Evangelical Church is among the early protestant churches in the Rhineland.
Born Lake
Born Lake was created by the removal of peat from the 16th through 18th century.
Today it is a popular destination among hikers and cyclists.
