Schloss Moers and Museum

Moated Renaissance castle housing the local history museum, set in a public park

The Schloss Moers is a moated Renaissance castle in the town centre, dating in its current form from the 16th century, though there has been a fortification on the site since the 13th century. It now houses the Grafschafter Museum, the local history museum covering the county of Moers and its somewhat improbable history as a Reformed Protestant enclave within Catholic territory during the Reformation. The museum's collections include archaeological finds, medieval religious objects, and local industrial history from the Ruhr coal era.

The Schlosspark surrounding the castle is a pleasant public garden, particularly attractive when the festival takes over the space in late spring. The Schlosstheater, an established repertory theatre operating from a building adjacent to the castle, runs a year-round programme of plays and concerts that draws audiences from across the western Ruhr area. Entry to the park is free; the museum charges a modest admission.

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A story
Moers was a county seat for centuries, ruled by the Counts of Moers before passing to the House of Orange-Nassau in 1600 and eventually becoming Prussian in 1702. Frederick the Great visited Moers in 1763 after the Seven Years' War and found it unremarkable, reportedly commenting that there was little to admire. The castle survived various owners and two World Wars and is now about as peaceful as a moated castle can be.

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