The Baroque white stone castle in the town of Bergisch Gladbach is still used for its intended purpose: people live here. Bensberg was built in the XVII century at the order of Elector Palatine Johann Wilhelm II for his beloved Anna Maria Luisa de 'Medici. Poet Goethe, who had been in the castle, compared the work by an Italian architect with Versailles. Italians also worked on the interior preserved to this day. Since 2000, Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg lifestyle hotel is located in Bensberg. The Cologne Cathedral is visible from the hotel rooms. The hotel has a spa, a three-Michelin-star restaurant and trattoria. The area around the castle is available not only for the hotel guests to explore.