Bentheim Castle

Bentheim Castle is an early medieval hill castle in Bad Bentheim, Lower Saxony, Germany. The castle is first mentioned in the 11th century under the name binithem.

The castle is built on a protrusion of Bentheim sandstone, which not only provided building materials for the castle itself but was also a valued export product. This Bentheimer Höhenrücken is the last protrusion of the nearby Teutoburger forest. Its elevated position in an otherwise very flat landscape provides an excellent view and thus a strategic location to build a castle.

The earliest history of the castle, which was erected on the remains of an earlier refuge castle is largely unknown. In the registries of Werden Abbey the castle is mentioned, as Binedheim, in and contributes grain, honey and 2 solidi.