The castle on the place of the present Rheydt Palace in Mönchengladbach has existed since immemorial time. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1180 and Wilhelm von Heppendorf was indicated as the owner. In the Middle Ages the Rheydt Castle became the ownership of the Von Bylandt dynasty. The barons Bylandt started its radical restructuring. In the XVI century Reydt was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. Italian architect Alessandro Pasqualini was involved in the castle redevelopment.
The rich interiors of the castle -the paintings, tapestries, statues, furniture – are the merit of the Italians. Over time, the owners were unable to maintain the Rheydt Castle and it was abandoned. In 1917 the state bought the castle. Today the castle functions as a museum where you can admire the rich interiors. In 1978, the castle was awarded the European Museum of the Year Award.