The present site was built in the late 14th century as a symbol of sovereignty and outpost of the archbishops of Cologne against the County of Jülich.

In the Second World War it was badly damaged, was partly rebuilt in the 1950s and acts today as a tourist information bureau and home of the Zülpich History Society.

The remaining structure of the present-day wing dates to a later period because the original roofs and interior walls from the 17th century have not survived.

[6] The external façade of the southwest wall is divided into regular axes by high, narrow, Gothic rectangular windows with lighter cut stone frames that are only interrupted by two garerobes.

The best preserved exterior wall is on the southeast side with the main gate made from carefully cut bunter sandstone ashlars to which the drawbridge used to lead.

Witnesses thereof are a deep blind niche, which frames the ogival arch of the gateway and used to house the drawbridge, and the still visible roller holes for the chains.