Weißhaus moated castle in Cologne thrilled – huge queue!

Weißhaus moated castle in Cologne thrilled – huge queue!

At the weekend the time had finally come – the Weißhaus moated castle in Cologne opened its gates for the first time in 400 years. An event that many Cologne residents didn’t want to miss. The art exhibition, which took place from Friday to Sunday, attracted not only art lovers but also numerous onlookers. Admission was free and the event was actively organized by castle owner Adam Szpyt, an entrepreneur in the mattress trade. When he purchased the castle in 2019, he had already emphasized that he wanted to make it accessible to the public, it was reported Express.

The long queues around the castle could not be overlooked. Some visitors waited for over three hours to take a look at the unique exhibits. Theresa, who was in line shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday, finally gave up after such a long time, as did many others who were unable to visit the colorful exhibition. An employee made those waiting aware of the long waiting time and asked for their patience. “I hope the castle opens more often in the future,” Theresa said afterwards, underlining the great interest of the Cologne population.

Art on mattresses – a unique experience

The exhibition itself was anything but ordinary. Under the motto “Art is experienced lying down,” visitors were able to sit down on mattresses provided specifically for the event by Szpyt’s company to view the works. Cologne artists such as Stefan Strumbel presented their paintings and figures, and works by Enya Burger and Luis Zimmermann, both of whom are alumni of the Düsseldorf Art Academy, were also on display. The exhibition was supervised by the curators David Roth and Pia Fatha, so that a varied range of art was guaranteed. Review online describes that the hanging mattress exhibits caused both amazement and conversation.

The historic White House has a long history, dating back to the 14th century when it was first mentioned in documents. It originally served as a summer residence for the Benedictines of Saint Pantaleon. The soft colors and the well-tended palace gardens thrilled the lucky few who were granted access to the exhibition within the short time frame. Eva, a visitor on Saturday, particularly praised the castle gardens and the implementations, which made the experience unique.

It looks like the reopening of the moated castle could be a valuable addition to Cologne's cultural landscape. The keen interest of residents suggests that many are hoping for more events of this kind. In recent years, more and more historians and tourists have become interested in Germany's diverse history and its castles, and the White House is no exception. Wikipedia lists numerous impressive palaces and castles in Germany, but the Weißhaus has something very special in its style and history.

Cologne looks forward to more such opportunities to experience the past and enjoy the beautiful art in one of the city's most impressive historic buildings. We can't wait to see what Adam Szpyt and his team are planning for the future!