Former monastery complex "Schloss Merten"
The monastery, which was probably founded by Countess Mathilde von Sayn, was first mentioned in a document by Otto von Kappenstein from 1217. Merten was not a rich monastery, but gained great importance thanks to a relic of St. Agnes and many other saints.
The monastery was secularized in 803. The Droste zu Vischering von Nesselrode-Reichenstein family of counts acquired the monastery buildings in 1909. They had the complex converted into a castle and expanded the grounds into a neo-baroque park modeled on French garden architecture. The small neo-baroque palace building, the so-called Orangerie, which houses a small café, was also built during this time. Today, the entire complex houses a retirement and nursing home.
The castle park is open to the public (please follow the instructions on site). The "Zuckerbäckerei" café has been open again since November 2025.
The monastery was secularized in 803. The Droste zu Vischering von Nesselrode-Reichenstein family of counts acquired the monastery buildings in 1909. They had the complex converted into a castle and expanded the grounds into a neo-baroque park modeled on French garden architecture. The small neo-baroque palace building, the so-called Orangerie, which houses a small café, was also built during this time. Today, the entire complex houses a retirement and nursing home.
The castle park is open to the public (please follow the instructions on site). The "Zuckerbäckerei" café has been open again since November 2025.
