These photographs show statues of gundogs in the grounds of the chateau at Nordkirchen which is located in Westphalia in the north of Germany. North Westphalia is known as the land of the water castles and is an area of Germany to which visitors from outside the country rarely go, except for the British army on the Rhine. The area lies to the north of the main industrialised region surrounding Dusseldorf and Essen. It is extremely flat and spans the region along the Dutch border that is mainly agricultural made up of pig, sugar beet and cereal farms. North Westphalia is very popular for cycling holidays due to its flatness and the water castles, a series of moated fortifications built in feudal times for the protection of local wealthy families and to act as trading posts for imports of spices entering Europe through the Dutch ports. Nordkirchen is not a good example of a water castle, some of which appear to rise from the centre of lakes that are in fact intricate series of concentric moats constructed to prevent ambushes. Nordkirchen dates from the late 1700s and is one of the newest of these castles, which number in total around forty. It is however one of the grandest, being known as the Versailles of the North, to which it has a notable similarity in architecture.

The chateau is now mainly used as a college, particularly for music. It is surrounded by some very well tended and extensive gardens which are dotted throughout by statues mostly depicting wildlife, especially wild board, and dogs. As I am sure you are aware the origins of the Weimaraner breed lie in the former Weimar republic that now makes up part of Germany.

I believe that the origins of the breed are linked to the city of Weimar, which gave its name to the treaty that set up the republic that was eventually disbanded before the Second World War. Weimar itself is located in the south west part of what became East Germany and is some 500 miles from Nordkirchen. I thought that the likeness of the statues to the current conformation of the breed was striking and indicated little deviation from its original roots and also, due to the age of the statues, the long history of the Weimaraner and related breeds. If anyone has a greater understanding of the origins and history of the breed it would be good to see your thoughts in the newsletter.

I was lucky enough to visit the region for business purposes, my company having a relationship with a business in the next town to Nordkirchen. The area is, however, only three hours drive from the Dutch seaports and is relatively inexpensive as it is off the beaten track, although English speakers are few and far between. I can however recommend the area for a short stay or stop over for anyone travelling in North Europe, it is very peaceful and picturesque and although the cuisine is very Germanic, the local pork is excellent.

The major town of the region is Munster, a very picturesque and historic university city and famed also for being the home of the Munsterhund. In discussion with the owner of the hotel where I was staying, who was also a hunter with a Munsterhund and a Retriever, I was informed that ownership of Weimaraners in Germany is in fact quite tightly restricted and that few are kept outside the hunting fraternity.

Matthew Phillips.

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