…a town and a castle in Münsterland, Germany.
But first a thought: ‘God forgives us because He is just.’
Paul speaking to the Corinthians:
If any person is in Christ, they are a new creature: old things are gone, look all things become new. For God made Jesus who knew no sin, sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus speaking: ‘ A good tree cannot produce evil/bad fruit neither can a bad/corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is thrown in the fire. You will know them by their fruit.’
Matthew 7:18-20 This whole chapter is Jesus saying things about ‘justice’. An important chapter to read.
We will start by looking into a pond. It is an extension of a moat and here is a legend.
It is at the time when Christianity came to Westphalia: An old priest once lived in the forest next to a chapel. He celebrated Mass every day and soon the farmers in the surrounding areas also started to pray to the Christian God. And then, one day, a Sunday, the chapel simply disappeared, in its place was a silent pool. However, in later years when the bells of Lüdinghausen church rang the waters of the pool rippled and the little bell of the sunken chapel rang as if in answer.
Let us walk along roads and paths for this area is filled with trees and grasses.
A row of fine mature trees line still dark waters mostly covered by water lilies.
Vast areas of grass with wild flowers wave near modern cycling/walking paths a way to connect town with two castles.
A castle still closed on this early morning but we will go into the second one Burg Vischering
The stone work is a feast of colour and shapes. First a little closer look at what we will see as a whole.
A look at the colours of a castle wall.
Then the moat with Roy and Bess crossing into Die Burg Vischering.
There are two accounts I will tell from this castle as given by signs on the walls. They are both about men. First Heidenreiche Droste zu Vischering a person who lived and owned the castle and then an 80-year-old Lord of the Manor of Kakesbeck.
Let us start with a face to put with the name Heidenrieche Vischering. He lived from 1507-1588. The castle was his home for all that time but when he was 14 years old in 1521 it was largely burnt down. This was the year that Martin Luther refused to revoke his teachings before the diet of worms. As an adult he had the castle rebuilt giving it mostly its present appearance. It took so long to complete that it was easier for him to have a carved bed made for his new wife, Jaspara, who died before the rebuilding of the castle was completed. The bed was done with care reflecting their religious commitment and as the future heir was to be conceived there, perfection of craftmanship was important.
This bed is the original with fine carvings.
Soldiers on horses with spears…
A fine castle and a bed with a Madonna from 1450.
Then there is this. An iron collar. Here is a story:
Sunday 25th July 1520 the Lord of the Manor of Kakesbeck, the 80-year-old Lombart von Oer, was riding home from church when suddenly nine men rushed out of hiding and dragged him off his horse.
Lombert was forced to swear on the Bible that he would go to Padberg Castle in the Sauerland within a few days and would allow himself to be imprisoned there. The iron collar, fitted with a complicated lock, which he was unable to open, was meant to “remind” him of his oath.
The leader of the attack was Goddert von Harmen, who was determined to force Lambert to renounce possession of some land which had been a source of conflict for almost 20 years.
The old man was not to be intimidated. That very day he had a blacksmith in Münster break open the collar and he brought the case to the territorial estates and princes. However, there was no agreement and a bloody feud broke out, a breach of the imperial peace.
I wonder how it really ended. Who got the land? Did I not see the last notice on the wall?
The iron collar.
There is always much more to these places but let’s walk in the sunshine where water is pleasantly part of the town.
A street in the town 1913 and now May 2026.
Then a chair with writing on it and a snail.
This is a bronze sculpture known as the “Chair of Happiness”. It was created by a local poet, author and artist Frantz Wittkamp to celebrated the redesign of the Borg area.
The snail is the symbol of the ‘Cittaslow’ movement, an international network of slow cities that focuses on a high quality of life, which Lüdinghausen joined.
Ah, this is what the writing says translated into English:
Happiness has come to visit, seen a beautiful chair, and taken a seat on the spot. Now it sits there and doesn’t want to leave.
Franz Wittkamp
A town to enjoy water, shade and nature.
Happiness grew a poppy and let it freely leave its seeds for many more years to come.
We have a beautiful world with lots of caring people.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂