Uda Castle

Uda Castle, locally known as Burg Uda, lies in the village of Oedt, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region in Germany.

Uda Castle was first mentioned in 1313. It was built around 1300 by Dietrich Luf III von Kleve, Count of Hülchrath and Lord of Kervenheim and Oedt. In 1349 the castle belonged to the Archdiocese of Cologne. It was of important strategic value because it protected the archdiocese against the duchies of Guelders and Jülich to the west.

In 1416 Uda Castle withstood a siege by the Counts of Berg during a feud with the Archbishop of Cologne. In 1477 the castle succumbed to a siege by Hermann von Hessen at the end of his feud with the Archbishop from Cologne; Rupprecht von der Pfalz.

In 1560 Johann von Brempt, steward of Oedt, carried out major repairs to Uda Castle.

In 1643 Hessian troops led by captain Rabenhaupt destroyed the castle. Although its defenses were not rebuilt, several buildings were kept in use by the local authorities.

In 1757, on the initiative of French officers, the remains of Uda Castle were demolished with the use of gunpowder except the remaining tower. The free coming stones were used as building material for roads.

The castle terrain, incorporated in a small park and showing the foundations of the castle, can be visited freely. The tower can be visited on special occasions. I find the tower very attractive but the area seemed a little neglected.

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