Burg Satzvey — Attraction in Mechernich

The Bad: I was mistakenly identified as a trespasser and yelled at, which was traumatic given my medical conditions. Theft was also a problem, with stolen items from market stalls and camps.

Overcrowding and muddy conditions made it challenging, especially for those with mobility issues.

Social drama! The environment was cliquey, gossipy, and unforgiving, with elitism and gatekeeping. Mistakes or neurodiverse behaviors were often held against people, creating an alienating atmosphere.

Celebrity worship is an issue.

Questionable behavior from some attendees, double lives or objectified others, raising concerns about consent and boundaries. A few seem to seek a type of inappropriate pleasure from this at the expense of attendees who don't realize what is happening until it's too late.

Accessibility was an issue. Bathrooms were hard to reach for the disabled, and mobility-impaired individuals may need able-bodied assistance, especially during wet seasons.

Unmet expectations. Some shows and animal treatments were disappointing, and certain parents treated performers like entertainers or babysitters, ignoring boundaries.

Overpriced! The cost felt high for what was offered. And not just the entry, even the food is too expensive for what you get.

The Good: Charming Atmosphere. The castle and setting had a unique medieval charm. Great Markets: Vendors offered a variety of goods, and artisans were talented.

Delicious Food. Tasty and satisfying. (Depends on when and where you go, evidently.)

Friendship Opportunities. It was easy to meet interesting people and form connections.

Peaceful little secluded spots provided a break from the crowds.

Considerate Quiet Hours. Most people respected quiet times after dark.

Accessibility for Performers was good, as electricity was available, a big perk for those with medical devices.

Overall, your experience will depend on your role, stay duration, and interactions. While there are significant issues to be aware of, there are also moments that are great. Worth a visit, but go with realistic expectations...

About two weeks ago, just before Halloween, I had the chance to explore an exciting event they had set up for the spooky season. It was a thrilling experience filled with festive decorations and fun surprises! The central area features an old castle that adds a charming yet eerie medieval atmosphere to the surroundings. Additionally, there is a section filled with shops offering a variety of food and beverages, showcasing traditional cuisine that reflects the local culture. There was a haunted maze that was well-designed, complete with smoke effects and people dressed in frightening costumes. However, one downside was that the queue to enter the maze took between 30 to 45 minutes, while the experience inside lasted only about 10 minutes. Overall, I found the experience to be quite enjoyable, although the entry fee of around 30 euros for the whole thing including the castle and maze seemed a bit high at first. Once I was inside, I could understand the pricing for it...

Satzvey Castle surely belongs to one of the most beautiful (n they claim to be the best maintained) moated castles in in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is stil unknown the exact built year of this place but its surely older than the year of 1396 - their first found written document.

Like some castles in Germany, this castle is owned and run by a royal Family named Count Beissel von Gymnich for over 300 years and they live there as well. This family organizes regular historic festivals throughout the year (ie. Easter & Spring Festivals, Knight Shows, Helloween and so on and the Seasonal Bazaar/Markets.

This castle is reachable both by train (only 3 min walking distance from the Train Station Satzvey) as well as car through A1, exit 111 Wisskirchen.

I wonder if we could visit the Christmas Market this year as I've never been there during Winter time n surely one of the Advent Weekends would be...