Marienburg Castle stands atop a mountain in the town of Nordstemmen in Lower Saxony.
The federal state of Lower Saxony is located in the northern part of the Federal Republic of Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. We found ourselves there on the occasion of a meeting with long-unseen friends. It was they who told us about the attractions of this part of Germany, and I must admit that we liked them all very much.
One of the places that particularly caught our attention is the romantic Marienburg Castle, standing on a hill majestically towering over the surroundings. Why romantic? Well, it was built precisely for that purpose. Care was taken to make it resemble a medieval castle with all the whimsical details, decorations, and the entire setting aimed at making the building a place so often described by fairy tale writers.
The plan was a great success; the Marienburg Castle looks very attractive. When you stand in the forest, below the castle hill, you almost want to look around anxiously for a dragon, a troll, or any other creature craving the beautiful princess locked in one of the four towers.
The castle was built in the neo-Gothic style in 1886 and is now considered one of the most beautiful examples of this style in Germany. Moreover, it is the most visited place by tourists in all of Lower Saxony. Is Marienburg Castle worthy of this prestigious title? We’ll find out in just a moment.
Visiting in Lower Saxony
If you have a bit more time to spare for exploring, I suggest you start by heading towards the town of Adensen and stop along one of the local roads. From there, you’ll get to see the castle in all its splendour. It looks truly charming, and from this perspective, it’s easy to understand what the architects and creators of the project had in mind.
The entire hill is covered with dense forest, and the castle emerges from this thicket, reaching with its towering spires towards the sky. It looks magical and sparks the imagination.
Once you feel you’ve seen enough, you can continue on towards the hill to explore the castle.
Marienburg Castle in Lower Saxony and the car park in front of the monument
There are several ways to reach Marienburg Castle. The first and simplest is to park at the forest car park near this charming tourist attraction. If you have VIP status, you can even drive onto the courtyard and park with class at the main entrance. However, if you’re not as influential or important, like us, you’ll have to leave your car in the forest.
Another way to visit the castle is to park your car along the road beneath the castle hill and enjoy a pleasant walk through the forest to the summit. However, remember that this area is also used by farmers, so large and heavy machinery might be moving along the roads. Therefore, park your car in a way that doesn’t obstruct anyone. Chasing tourists with pitchforks remains a popular pastime around here.
Lower Saxony, the cycling capital of Germany
If we’re talking about transportation, you should know that Lower Saxony boasts the best-developed network of cycling paths in all of Germany, and there are hardly any places in Europe more cyclist-friendly. Lower Saxony can boast 13,000 kilometres of cycling routes, running near most roads, allowing cyclists to reach almost any destination. Traffic on cycling paths is managed by traffic lights, special roundabouts, and bridges. There are even dedicated cycling highways connecting major cities. It’s a true model to emulate.
Courtyard and gate in the castle
As in any castle, the first thing you’ll see at Marienburg is a grand gate guarding access to the interior of the structure. Besides the entrance with its toothed grate, the castle was once defended by a moat, now devoid of water. All these defences are mere facades aimed at creating the atmosphere of a medieval fortress. In the times when the castle was built, a simple infantry unit supported by a few cannons could have razed the stronghold to the ground.
After passing through the gate, you’ll enter the spacious castle courtyard. From the inside, the castle looks relatively different from the outside. The buildings are more modern, and the ramps and rooms are designed to be functional and comfortable for the residents.
Ticket booths, a restaurant serving excellent coffee, and the entrance to the banquet hall, where weddings can be held in the style of medieval splendour, are located in the cloisters. This is also where the entrance to the castle chapel is located, and of course, the main entrance to the museum housed within the castle.
What we will see in the Marienburg Castle Museum
Marienburg Castle is still owned by the princely family, and only a portion of its rooms are open to visitors. The rest serves as the residence for the owners during their stay at the castle. The presence of the princely family is indicated by the flag with the coat of arms of the House of Hanover flying from the highest tower.
The castle houses over 130 rooms, various chambers, and utility spaces. It was built as a summer residence for the Wolf family, an ancient and noble dynasty that has ruled the Duchy of Hanover for centuries. Therefore, it had to meet all the requirements and expectations of aristocrats accustomed to luxuries.
Inside, there’s a vast hall with stations for the servants, a beautiful dining room capable of accommodating dozens of guests, and a magnificent library, reportedly Queen Maria’s favourite spot. Additionally, there are children’s bedrooms and the grandest of all, the queen’s alcove. There’s also a ballroom, galleries full of paintings and sculptures, and a beautiful, fully equipped kitchen with numerous utility rooms. Behind the main building are stables and other such facilities.
It is during the interaction with everyday items that one can learn about life at court, customs, and the rules prevailing at that time. In the kitchen, there are ancient dishes, moulds, and dozens of pots, pans, and skillets. If you’re attentive enough, you’ll find old recipes and notes left for the servants.
On one of the walls hangs a large board where the castle residents would hang their meal requests for the upcoming days. If any of the household members fancied Brühwürste with beer, there was no problem. They would hang a note with the order, and that was it.
The knight’s hall left a big impression on me. It’s full of weapons, ancient costumes, and steel knight’s armour. It adjoins the aforementioned courtyard, where tournaments, reminiscent of medieval ones, were held. Today, concerts and theatrical performances take place in the courtyard, while the knight’s hall hosts exhibitions dedicated to the history of the Duchy of Hanover, the House of Hanover, and Marienburg Castle itself.
All the rooms open to tourists are fully furnished. Most of the furniture and equipment are original or replaced with exact replicas of the originals.
Marienburg Castle in Lower Saxony and its history
And finally, we come to my favourite section: the History of Marienburg Castle.
Marienburg Castle was built to fit into romantic, medieval tales and legends. However, its romanticism isn’t solely derived from the shape of its walls or the charming towers rising above the dense surrounding forest. The construction and history of Marienburg Castle are just as romantic as its appearance.
King George V of Hanover loved his wife, Maria, unconditionally. People said there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. So, when the queen mentioned one evening that she dreamed of a castle like those in the novels she avidly read, the king took it to heart.
For her fortieth birthday, the queen received as a gift from her husband lands situated on a hill, which were named Marienburg in her honour. At the summit of the hill, a castle was to be built, exactly as Maria had envisioned. This castle was intended to become the summer residence for the queen and a spectacular royal court for the royal family.
Marienburg Castle in Lower Saxony and the beginning of its construction and further history
Construction began in 1858 and concluded after eight years. The architects entrusted with the project managed the construction quite efficiently. Unfortunately, the endeavour was never completed. The Duchy of Hanover’s conflict with Prussia, whose troops occupied the surrounding lands and the castle itself, stood in the way. The king immigrated to Austria, and soon the entire family joined him.
Marienburg Castle only returned to the hands of the Hanoverian princes after the end of World War II. Today, its owners are the titular King of Hanover, Ernest August V of Hanover, and his wife, the Duchess of Hanover, who is also a princess of Monaco. It was Ernest August who dedicated part of the castle to a museum and opened it to tourists. The rooms contain memorabilia from the family and the history of the duchy.
Officially, it’s said that the castle was turned into a museum to promote the history of the dynasty and the Duchy of Hanover. However, rumours suggest that the old Welf dynasty, to which the royal family belongs, is facing significant financial problems. These rumours may be supported by the fact that in 2005, an auction of artworks from Marienburg Castle was organized. Many items were sold, including paintings, historical uniforms, and court costumes.
Jewellery, weapons, and antique furniture were also put up for auction. The exact amount raised during the auction remains unknown, as part of it was conducted secretly somewhere in the castle’s cellars. It’s rumoured to be over 40 million euros, but the actual sum could have been much higher. The family claimed that only unnecessary items cluttering the castle’s attics were sold, but art experts don’t entirely agree.
The current Duke of Hanover added fuel to the fire by proposing to the authorities of the federal state of Lower Saxony to sell the castle for a symbolic sum of 1 euro. The reason is the need for many highly complex repairs and renovations inside the castle. It turned out that despite its grand appearance, the building is in poor technical condition. The family has spent millions on the most necessary work, but the needs are much greater.
However, it’s uncertain whether the sale of Marienburg Castle will come to fruition. The family’s mentor, Ernest August V, who in 2004 gifted the castle to his son, has now withdrawn the gift because he opposes the sale of the family seat. One can only hope that disputes within the princely family will not harm this extraordinary and beautiful building, proudly adorning the fields and forests of Lower Saxony.
Marienburg Castle in Lower Saxony information and interesting facts
- The House of Welf, to which Marienburg Castle currently belongs, is a branch of the Hanoverian princely family. It is the oldest princely lineage in Europe.
- For centuries, the Welf dynasty not only ruled the Duchy of Hanover but also governed Great Britain until the early 20th century.
- The Duchy of Hanover was part of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.
- Marienburg Castle is one of the few castles that did not arise on the foundations of an older building. It was literally built from scratch.
- Construction of the castle began in 1858 and was completed in 1867. It was designed in the popular neo-Gothic style of the time. Today, Marienburg Castle is considered the most important neo-Gothic monument in Germany.
- The name Marienburg Castle was given in honour of the wife of King George V of Hanover.
- The construction of the castle quickly exceeded the planned costs and dragged on more and more. Many changes and corrections were made during construction. At times, parts of the building were dismantled to accommodate new ideas. Additionally, the terrain’s topography didn’t help in maintaining the anticipated costs.
- Ultimately, the construction was completed by architect Edwin Oppler, who was of Jewish descent and originally from Wrocław.
- Due to the conflict with Prussia, the castle was not completed. A part of one wing is missing, and the tower crowning that wing is without a roof.
- The armed conflict also meant that its owners essentially had no opportunity to live there. The King of Hanover was exiled to Austria, and the queen spent only a few months at Marienburg Castle.
- While exploring Lower Saxony, it’s worth considering cycling trips. There are many convenient cycling routes throughout the area, totalling 13,000 kilometres throughout Lower Saxony.
Marienburg Castle in Lower Saxony and useful information and links
- Address: Marienberg 1, 30982 Pattensen.
- Opening hours: The castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Ticket prices: An adult ticket costs 12.50 euros. Children pay 9.50 euros. (Prices may change, so please consider the above information as a guideline, not a certainty).
- We recently described another interesting castle located in Cullera in Spain.
- Virtual tour of Marienburg Castle
- Official castle website
You must be logged in to post a comment.