Burg Spich

Burg Spich in Troisdorf is a historic manor house with deep roots in the Rhenish aristocratic history. The listed building on Hauptstraße in the Spich district embodies centuries of settlement history in the region and recalls the times when free noble estates shaped the landscape. Visitors exploring the Rhine-Sieg area find here an authentic insight into the feudal past without being disturbed by large tourist crowds. Its location in the lively Spich district with half-timbered houses, proximity to the Wahner Heide and good connections to Cologne and Bonn makes Burg Spich a worthwhile stop for history enthusiasts and walkers. The name derives from a standing body of water, an old arm of the Rhine, and points to the early drainage of the marshy terrain. Anyone who appreciates the quiet atmosphere and the architectural testimonies of the 19th century will find what they are looking for at this place and can experience the connection between the noble seat and the development of the village up close.

History of Burg Spich

The history of Burg Spich reaches back to the High Middle Ages. The free noble estate was first documented in 1297, when a document from Michaelsberg Abbey mentioned a Mechthild de Spico. Another document referring to the house itself dates from 1389. The name Spich originally denoted a standing body of water, such as an old arm of the Rhine, and indicates the swampy surroundings that could only be settled after drainage. Archaeological finds show that people already lived in this area around 3500 BC.

In the 16th century the estate belonged to the von Hannf family for about 150 years. Afterwards the owners changed several times. In 1686 it passed to Johann Baptist de Gramaye, choir bishop of the Cologne foundation of Sankt Gereon. In 1705 it went to Heisterbach Abbey and later to the official administrator de Warth of Blankenberg. His son-in-law Carl Gottfried Mappius, official administrator and postmaster, established a post station of the imperial Thurn and Taxis postal service in the house. It served the routes Düsseldorf–Mannheim and Cologne–Frankfurt until the station was moved to Siegburg in 1761. A daughter of Mappius married into the family at Haus Broich and thus united the two defining noble seats of Spich.

The original buildings of the estate no longer exist. The present manor house was built in 1866 on Hauptstraße and is listed as a monument together with a vaulted cellar in the front garden and a wayside shrine. The settlement history of Spich was closely linked to the two noble houses Haus Spich and Haus Broich, which were first mentioned in the 12th century. Turbulent centuries with marriages, seizures and legal disputes shaped the ownership. In the Truchsessian War of 1588 the village burned down. A wedding in 1630 protected Spich from further devastation by Swedish troops. In 1815 an alum works began operation and initiated industrial development. In 1826 a fire destroyed eight houses on Burgstraße and Brückenstraße. In 1927 Spich was incorporated into Sieglar and in 1969 into Troisdorf. Today Burg Spich stands as a visible testimony to this long history.

Highlights of Burg Spich

The outstanding feature of Burg Spich is the manor house built in 1866 at Hauptstraße 183. It conveys an impression of the representative residential culture of the 19th century and is protected as a listed building. In front of the building there is a vaulted cellar that is also listed and points to older layers of use. Next to it stands a wayside shrine that reflects the religious character of the region and is likewise under monument protection.

The immediate surroundings enhance the historical character. Only a few steps away stands the Renaissance manor house of Haus Broich from 1620 on Burgstraße. It was erected by the Wolffen-Vercken couple and displays the alliance coat of arms on the gable side. The building lies on the edge of a park that borders directly on the Wahner Heide nature reserve. The combination of both noble seats makes clear how closely the history of Burg Spich is interwoven with the development of the village.

Further highlights in the direct vicinity are the half-timbered houses Haus Heep and Et Hüsje. Haus Heep, already recorded as a non-noble farmstead in 1755, later served as an inn and a collection point for road tolls. After a fire in 1999 it was rebuilt true to the original with the help of the local history association. Et Hüsje opposite is a small half-timbered house that is also listed. The Bleimopsplatz with the Moggel fountain recalls the former tradition of collecting lead bullets on the Wahner Heide military training area. The Spicher Hohlstein, an approximately 26-million-year-old quartzite block, is a natural monument surrounded by legends. The neo-Gothic church of St. Mary’s Assumption from 1860 completes the ensemble. Together these elements form a dense historical and cultural fabric that makes Burg Spich a central point of orientation.

Opening Hours, Tickets & How to Get to Burg Spich

Burg Spich is a privately used listed manor house and has no regular public opening hours for interior visits. The exterior of the building at Hauptstraße 183 can be viewed from the street at any time. Historical guided tours and walks organised by the Tourist Information Burg Wissem regularly pass the house and provide background information. Such tours often start at Bleimopsplatz or in front of the Sängerstuben restaurant and last about two hours. Registration is required and participation is usually free of charge.

No admission fee is charged for exterior viewing. For current information on guided tours it is advisable to contact the Tourist Information Burg Wissem by telephone on 02241 900-456 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Getting there is straightforward. By car Spich can be reached via Bundesstraße 8 or the A 59 motorway, exit Spich. Parking is available at Spicher Platz or near the S-Bahn station. Public transport options include the S-Bahn to Troisdorf-Spich or bus line 507 to the Kreissparkasse stop. From there it is only a few minutes’ walk to Hauptstraße. Cologne/Bonn Airport and the ICE station Siegburg/Bonn are a short distance away and well connected. The central location in the Rhine-Sieg district makes Burg Spich an easily accessible destination for day trips from Cologne or Bonn.

Attractions Near Burg Spich

In the immediate vicinity of Burg Spich lies Haus Broich with its Renaissance manor house from 1620. The Spicher Hohlstein, a striking quartzite block, is a popular photo motif and hiking destination. The Bleimopsplatz with the Moggel fountain tells of local history in the 19th century. The church of St. Mary’s Assumption and the Bürgerhaus Spich on Waldstraße complement the cultural offer.

A little further away begins the Wahner Heide, one of the largest and most species-rich nature reserves in North Rhine-Westphalia. It invites visitors to take extensive walks and cycle tours. Burg Wissem in Troisdorf with the Picture Book Museum is only a few minutes away and offers cultural highlights. The Rotter See and the Sieg floodplains expand the possibilities for nature lovers. In this way a visit to Burg Spich can be excellently combined with further discoveries in the region.