Between Kranenburg and Kleve, on the edge of the small village of Mehr, tucked away in the wide landscape of the Lower Rhine, the old Knights castle Zelem. The moated castle Zelem looks back at 1000 years of history, which had its heyday in the late middle ages until the end of the 18th century. The castle served the Romans and was first documented in the 12th century in a script of the Echternach Abbey. Today it is one of the patriarchal fortifications in the German-Dutch border region.
The non-profit Zelem Castle Foundation was established in 2023 to promote and preserve the historic preservation of the castle complex. Another of the foundation’s aims is the promotion of art and culture. This includes the appreciation of the automobile, which is recognized as a cultural asset under the 1980 Turin Convention.
“Monuments are far more than architectural heritage. They are also part of our identity.”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier: Zelem Castle is a living testimony to past times and bears the traces of significant events and personalities. As a landmark and cultural monument, it remains a valuable part of our cultural heritage and a fascinating symbol of the history and identity of the Lower Rhine region. Donate to historic preservation and support the preservation of Zelem Castle:
Zelem Castle Foundation Bank:
Zelemer Weg 15 Sparkasse Krefeld
47559 Kranenburg Mehr DE52 3205 0000 0000 480038
0049 (0)2826-9992804 BIC SPKRDE33XXX
www.burg-zelem.de
info@burg-zelem.de
Follow us on a journey back in time to the early Middle Ages and find out what Zelem Castle and the entrepreneur Jochen Arden
are all about. On 70 pages with glossy pictures and texts on history and legends, you can read all about the hitherto largely unknown
former knight’s seat in the heart of the dune landscape on the lower Lower Rhine.
You can purchase the booklet for €15.00 plus shipping costs of €4.80 within Germany from the Zelem Castle Foundation, info@burg-zelem.de
Booklet now availableCastle Zelem is a private property and thus from an economic point of view a private construction for nearly 100 years. In contrast to many other palaces and castles, the construction site and maintenance are not in the hands of the public. At the moment possible uses that secure the significant historical stock for the next generations are being researched.
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