At the edge of the Namib Desert there is a castle built in the style of romantic Rhenish castles – with parapets and a well in the courtyard. In this locality this very solid building seems slightly ludicrous.
In 1908 Baron von Wolff, who had arrived in Namibia with the German "Schutztruppe", had this building erected by the architect Wilhelm Sander, who also built the Heinitzburg in Windhoek. Von Wolff realized this project with the aid of his wife, a wealthy American lady. The happy adventurer, nearly 2m tall, planned to buy a gigantic farm of 150 000 ha (!) around Duwisib Castle. This project failed, however, on account of the colonial government and later because of World War I, to which he fell victim. The castle has recently been restored and serves as a museum.
Today, visitors can enter the castle, which has been restored and serves a a museum. Duwisib Castle is definitely worth a trip! |
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| Duwisib: Rhenish castle at the edge of the desert |
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