Raesfeld () is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
in the
district of Borken in the state of
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a States of Germany, state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more tha ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. It is located approximately 10 km south of
Borken and 30 km east of the
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
border.
Raesfeld's landmark is the
moated castle
A water castle is a castle whose site is largely defended by water. It can be entirely surrounded by water-filled moats (moated castle) or natural waterbodies such as island castles in a river or offshore. The term comes from European castle ...
, originally built in the 13th century and extended and remodeled in
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
style in the 17th century. It is now primarily used by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as a center for the teaching of
craft
A craft or trade is a pastime or an occupation that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small scale prod ...
s; the formal gardens have been lost, but the wildlife park has been restored and is part of the
European Garden Heritage Network
The European Garden Heritage Network is a nonprofit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organi ...
.
The municipality of Raesfeld includes , a village within the that has an ancient
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
, the , thought to be 600–850 years old and named for
Vehmic court The Vehmic courts, ''Vehmgericht'', holy vehme, or simply Vehm, also spelt ''Feme'', ''Vehmegericht'', ''Fehmgericht'', are names given to a "proto-vigilante" tribunal system of Westphalia in Germany active during the later Middle Ages, based on a f ...
sessions formerly held under it.
Gallery
File:20140720 110754 Schloss Raesfeld, Raesfeld (DSC04114).jpg, Aerial view of Schloss Raesfeld on the outskirts of Raesfeld
File:20170423 Schloss Raesfeld, Raesfeld (07915).jpg, Schloss Raesfeld, east facade
File:Raesfeld, sculptuur Kappes Anna positie2 foto8 2016-07-19 13.22.jpg, ''Kappes Anna'' (Cabbage Anna) sculpture
Image:Erle, kerk in straatzicht foto2 2011-04-09 15.40.JPG, Erle, with church of St. Silvester
References
External links
Site of the municipality
Gallery about Raesfeld in general, and the castle
Gallery showing the castle
Borken (district)
{{Borken-geo-stub