Schloss Nordkirchen: Versailles of Westphalia : Go big or go home?

On this day - the sun was out, and it was warm....I wanted to see something impressive, so I got in my car..and my stomach and I braved the extreme curves through the Wuppertal valley...and drove off towards Münsterland!

 So a few things to be aware of...this Schloss is the Fachhochschule für Finanzen Nordrhein-Westfalen aka - it's a school, so it's better go to on Sunday.  There are multiple areas to park, but during school time - you need a permit, and I can imagine - just to even to find a space might be a headache.  My navi also seemed to direct me not through the city of Nordkirchen, but behind it.  There were signs to the Schloss, but it wasn't 100% clear where to go - but that makes for the adventure right? Just don't panic - the schlosspark is huge and I just happened to land more in this area than the Schloss itself.



Here is my review before my pictures:
First thing - If you are having trouble finding things..it's not you.  There's really no clear signs of where to go - where the tours start - where to buy tickets..etc.  To walk around the Schlosspark is free, but you can also take guided tours of the Gartens, and building.  The Schloss is actually newer - when comparing to the other Schlösser in Germany.  This one started to be built in the 1700s - which is actually quite newer.

Now when you do find where the tour starts...careful.....  *shutters**sad**disappointed*
The tour starts in the Chapel - which is hard to identify when all the building doors are shut, and the sign identifying that is quite small in relations to the size of the place. 

If you would like to enjoy the tour, and not get yelled at here are some helpful hints:
 1. Make sure you have money somewhere close to the entrance fee as you will get yelled at if you don't have anything near exact change. 

2. Do not come late!!!  We, the tour group, watched 3 older people get yelled at as they were 1-2 minutes late.

3. Make sure to put your camera fully away.  This means having the lens cap on, camera off, and wearing it behind your back will not save you from being yelled at in front of the group in German for having a camera in a "Photography ist nicht erlaubt" area.  Yes, I can read/speak German.  grrrr.  Whew!

Also...yes, it's a school, but the place is HUGE.  Unfortunately you only see 4 rooms on the tour?!  Bah.  All of this really just turned me off. 

Anyways...here are some pictures from that visit in May - scroll all the way down to find my final thoughts, and rating.

I don't know if my expectations were super high since I have been to the real Place of Versailles in France?

Which is........Awesome!!!!

 Overall: I give Schloss Nordkirchen a 8.5.

I can imagine if you live in the area - it's makes for a great Sunday afternoon to walk the Schlosspark. I love walking in Schlossparks!  If you are visiting Germany, I recommend to go to it only if you are around this area, and if you do - make sure you FOLLOW THE RULES!! =)