Schönau Castle is a small moated castle in the Aachen suburb of Richterich. The area around Schönau was transferred as property to Henry of Aachen by Emperor Frederick II in 1244. Henry of Aachen, previously treasurer of Aachen, founded the von Schönau family, who also called themselves von Schönforst after acquiring the castle and lordship of Schönforst in the first half of the 14th century.
In 1302, the Emperor granted the right to exercise all rights to the knight Gerard von Schönau. Due to its importance, this document was deposited in Aachen's town hall and fell victim to a fire in 1656. The contents of the document have been preserved in a certified copy.
In 1396, Schönau Castle and the surrounding area became a fief of the Duchy of Jülich. It remained in the possession of a branch of the von Schönau family and was passed on to the von Millendonk family, who owned it from around 1450 to 1695. Through marriage, the demesne came to the von Blanche family. The attempt by Johann Gottfried of the Holy Roman Empire, immediate Baron of Blanche, Schönau, Fronenbroch, Hörstgen etc. Dynast in Hüls etc., to regain imperial immediacy for the area around Schönau Castle failed, and Gottfried von Blanche ended up in the dungeon of Jülich Castle in 1759.
Most of the current buildings date back to 1732. Today, the castle belongs to the city of Aachen and is used as a restaurant.
There are two ponds in the Schloss Schönau area. A small side pond with a water surface area of 550 m² and the pond surrounding the moated castle with a total water surface area of 2250 m².
According to the canal register, the water level of the larger pond should be approx. 179.70 above sea level. The depth of the pond is max. 1.60 meters. The volume is approx. 2500 m³. The estimate is based on the height of the drainage shaft, which is specified with a cover height of 181.31 m above sea level and a shaft bottom of 179.70 m above sea level.
City of Aachen