Helltorf is a classic palace with a ditch in the northern outskirts of Duesseldorf. It has been known since 11th c., although its contemporaries among the palatial architecture have barely survived.
In the course of over ten centuries the territory with the palace changed hands several times. The Helltorf family whose name the palace carries were but one of the owners. Today the palace is owned by the von Spee family, therefore it is considered a private property. Despite this, the palace is partly open to visitors who can take a tour of the palace in spring and summer on weekends and bank holidays. The building is interesting in itself, thanks to its mighty walls. Still, visitors should pay attention to the English garden (late 18th c.), as well as the mansion, whose walls and ceilings are richly decorated with frescoes. The counts von Spee's expansive library also strikes one's imagination.