Strategically located on the steep western slope, the castle was once the scene of historical power struggles: when Charlemagne conquered the Saxon Sigiburg in 775, he used it as a defensive structure. From 1150, the first castle served to secure the nearby imperial court of Westhofen until the complex was destroyed in 1287 and today serves as a memorial to fallen soldiers. The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial from 1902 is an impressive relic of recent history, while the octagonal Vincke Tower from 1857 on the highest point of the Syberg commemorates Ludwig von Vincke.
After the severe damage in the Second World War, the Vincke Tower was restored in 1955 and is now owned by the Westphalia-Lippe Regional Association (LWL), together with the Kaiser Memorial and the castle. In clear weather, the viewing terrace offers a wide view over the Ruhr valley, the mouth of the Lenne and as far as the mountains of the Sauerland. To the west is the historic Koepchenwerk, a pumped storage power station and part of the "Industrial Culture" theme route.
A walk in the "Ruhrsteilhänge Hohensyburg" nature reserve or on the "Syburger Bergbauweg" offers the opportunity to experience nature and history up close - a perfect symbiosis for creative minds who want to combine the magic of the past with the dynamism of today.
