Germany is famous for its castles. You probably will find one on almost every route you plan in the country. The Bentheim castle is one of the of the castles that is relatively close to the northern Dutch border which meant that we could drive to it from Groningen.
We visited it as part of a day trip away from the city BUT you can easily drive to and fro in a day if that’s what you want. Alternatively, if you head here during the warmer months, you could also choose to camp!
Oh and did I mention that there is a cool RV camping ground with a view of the castle? Yeah! That’s why it is such a popular pitstop for anyone who is on a trip in an RV.
All in all, Bad Bentheim has one of the fairytale castles in Germany and is a great place to visit whether it is for a day or a week!
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Bad Bentheim Castle
Bad Bentheim is a gorgeous little town that is famous for its mineral springs, sandstone and its gorgeous castle that towers over the city. The Bentheim castle was built with the very same sandstone that made the town rich back in the day.
The castle can be traced way back to the 11th century where it was referred to as Binithem.
Interestingly enough, the castle is still owned by the Prince of Bentheim – Steinfurt. He does not live here though and has opened it to the public as a museum which is really cool because Bentheim castle is a great place to see!
Bad Bentheim Castle Timings
The Bentheim Castle is open everyday. The timings however defer based on the season you visit in.
March to October: 10am – 6pm
November to February: 10am – 5pm
Even though it is open till 5 pm, note that the last ticket is sold at 4:15pm (or 5:15pm between March to October).
I highly recommend visiting around an hour and a half before closing time. This is because it will give you enough time to wander around before closing.
Bad Bentheim Castle Tickets
The Bad Bentheim castle tickets can be obtained right from the entrance itself. Children under age of 6 years can enter for free. They do get a ticket with a code to scan which our kids thought was super cool.
These are the ticket prices for the various categories.
- Adults – €6,50
- Reduced in conjunction with a guided tour of the castle – €5,50
- Reduced for groups of more than 15 persons – €5,50
- Youth (6-14) years – €3,50
- Children under 6 years – Free
- Guided Tours – €39 plus entrance fee
Things To Do In Bad Bentheim Castle
A lot of people will probably tell you that the Bentheim castle is really small. It is and it isn’t because once you start wandering around you will find that there are a lot of things to explore.
The best thing about Bentheim castle is that it has been well preserved and well maintained.
Walking through the castle is quite literally like walking back in time. We visited it during the fag end of winter and saw it with a layer of snow. I can only imagine how pretty it will look in spring and summer which is why I probably will head back again.
1. St. Catherine’s Church
The first of the list of things to do in Bentheim Castle is St. Catherine’s church.
At first glance the church looks rather sparse. This is because unlike many of the other churches that you will visit, there is no seating area and the main point of focus once you enter is the hanging statue of Madonna and a cross that is attached to the wall.
Though sparse, there is an elegant sort of beauty to this church. It does however raise the question… Why are there no paintings? Way back in 1588, Count Arnold II converted to Calvinism.
One of the doctrines of Calvinism was the rejection of all pictorial decoration. Count Arnold adopted this doctrine into St. Catherine’s church. You will find a similar set up in many of the other reformed churches in the area.
2. Herrgott
This is technically not a separate part of the castle and lies right in St. Catherine’s church. I’ve listed it separately so that you make sure not to pause for a bit and look at Herrgott.
So what is Herrgott? Popularly known as Herrgott of Bentheim, this artifact is an ancient crucifix which is one of the oldest portrayals of Christ in Central Europe.
Carved into a cross of stone (I think sandstone), it captures your attention immediately. This is largely because of the lack of other pictorials in the vicinity.
3. Powder Tower
The view from the top of the Powder Tower in Bad Bentheim castle.
I am very curious about why the tower is called the Powder Tower. If someone knows the answer to this, do drop me a note in the comments.
The Powder Tower offers a breathtaking view of the whole town. You do have to climb a couple of stairs to the top but trust me the view is so worth it. Most of the surrounding area is flat land. The Bentheim castle is situated much higher than anything around it and the Powder Tower gives you a bird’s eye view for miles around.
Just note that on cold days you would probably want to dress up warmly before you head up. The winds make the platform at the top of the tower very cold.
4. The Museum
The museum is located in the old Royal stables. Don’t think of a place that is dark or dull because the building is really well renovated. Odds are, if I had not told you, you probably would not know that it housed the stables.
Here you will be able to see gold and silver coins, old books and bibles (I had a bit of trouble reading German signs so I can’t be sure about all the exhibits!)
5. Battery Tower
The Battery tower is another very interesting part of the Bad Bentheim castle. From what I understand, it was constructed much later. This was done to defend the castle on the southwest side.
The niches of this tower were where the cannons were stationed. These obviously were used to decimate an approaching enemy. There’s also a jail and mill here.
6. The Carriage Exhibit
The carriage exhibit is very interesting. You can see all the different kinds of carriages that were used over the years. All of them are kept in such good condition.
These carriages were a symbol of the aristocracy and were brought out on important occasions.
Quick fact: The last time one of these carriages was used was in 2007 for the wedding of Prince Carl Ferdinand and Princess Elna Margert.
My kids however thought they were strollers for adults. Lol. The comments really made us pause because it did seem like an appropriate description at that time.
7. Kronenburg
Bad Bentheim Castle with a layer of snow!
The Bad Bentheim castle is also known as Kronenburg. It is also known as Kasteel Bentheim in German.
Did you know that the castle was destroyed during a war in the 18th century? The counts then decided that it was not a good place for them to stay. That is why it was then converted into a prison.
Prince Alexis II had other ideas though. So in 1883, he commissioned an architect Franz Anton Nordhoff to improve the structure and make it a place where the aristocracy could stay in again. This is why, though the castle was originally built in the 11th century, it has a facade that was built between 1883 – 1914.
The best part about the Kronenburg is that you can go inside and explore most of the whole building. From the hall of Knights to the refectory, everything is well maintained. You could spend a lot of time wandering through the rooms.
If you get a chance, take a look at the mosaic floor patterns on the ground floor. I found the work extremely intricate and very beautiful.
Pro Tip: If you speak German, you will find a video + audio narration about the whole tower on the lower floor. It is very well done and even though we do not speak German, we paused a bit to watch it!
8. Castle Park
The castle has a lovely well manicured lawn in front of it. You will find this as soon as you pass through the gates of the castle walls. When we visited the entire area was covered in a layer of snow.
It was a completely different vibe and the kids loved it! For people who hardly ever get their hands on snow, this was a unique experience. It is also one of the best places to take photographs!
Where To Stay When Visiting Bad Bentheim Castle
The best place to stay when visiting Bad Bentheim castle is right in the heart of Bentheim city. There are some really great options here even though the city itself is really small. Alternatively, you can park your RV very close to the castle and camp for some time.
Here are some options that you can choose from if you want to stay in the area.
Hotel Grossfeld – Luxury
⭐️ Rating: 8.0/10 (1,135 Reviews) Price: $179 per night 📍Location: Schloßstraße 6, Bad Bentheim Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If you want to have a nice luxurious stay, then Hotel Grossfeld is your pick. It has its own spa. That way you can just relax after spending your day out in the castle. Not that the walk through the castle is very tiring mind you.
“I like the location of the hotel. Everything from food, bars and the castle were within walking distances. My hotel view of the wind turbines was a nice touch too”
Kevin (read more reviews now!)
The rooms are extremely comfortable and spacious. After your day in the spa, you can hang around in the hotel or even take a nice long nap. You could also take a nice swim in the indoor heated pool. Life definitely cannot get better than this!
Hotel Diana – Mid Range
⭐️ Rating: 8.5/10 (434 Reviews) Price: $139 per night 📍Location: An der Diana 15, Bad Bentheim Details: Read more on booking.com now!
If you don’t want to spend a lot on a night of luxury and still want to pamper yourself, then consider booking a night at Hotel Diana.
This hotel has a heated pool, a sauna and a steam room.
“The pool was great and the staff were very friendly. Perfect for a quick stop over. Very close to a nice park with space for children to play.”
Steven (read more reviews now!)
One of the best things about this place is the breakfast buffet. The hotel also has an epic bar where guests can hang out and meet other people in the evenings.
Hotel Am Berghang – Budget
⭐️ Rating: 8.7/10 (576 Reviews) Price: $109 per night 📍Location: Am Kathagen 68-69, Bad Bentheim Details: Read more on booking.com now!
Hotel Am Berghang is a great budget hotel. You do need to keep in mind that kids are not allowed in this hotel. In fact, it has a minimum check in age of 18 years.
“Clean, modern room. Comfortable bed. Superb breakfast in very nice setting. Friendly staff. Will definitely stay here again.”
Esther (read more reviews now!)
This hotel is the top pick for business travelers and couples. It has an amazing breakfast, swanky rooms and very good wifi. It also is very well located with loads of restaurants and cafes around.
And there you have it! If you are visiting or traveling through the area, make sure that you add Bad Bentheim Castle to your list. Not only is the castle well maintained, it very pretty and gives you one of the best views you could get in the area.
Oh and did I mention that there are some amazing places to eat in the neighborhood. Don’t forget to check our guide to Bad Bentheim and read about all the other activities that you can do in the vicinity!
