Schloss

Love of a Lifetime

The romantic vision of a medieval castle was a birthday present of King George V of Hanover (1819-1878) to his wife Queen Marie (1818-1907). Marienburg Castle was built between 1858 and 1867 as a summer residence for the Queen, who had long wished for a refuge from official court life. The building was designed in the neo-Gothic style, which was highly popular at the time. At the time of construction, King George V could not know that his love token would once become one of the important historic monuments in Germany.

Until 21 years earlier – and for the more than 120 years between 1714 and 1837 - there had been virtually no royal court in Hanover as the House of Hanover had ruled the kingdoms of Hanover and Britain by personal union.

During that time the monarchs had lived almost exclusively in London, and Hanover was largely lacking in the architecture typical for a royal capital. Perhaps that is why the "little country seat" the Queen had wished for grew into this magnificent stately home.

The architect commissioned to build the castle was Conrad Wilhelm Hase, one of Hanover's most influential architects of the time. In 1864 he was succeeded by his former pupil Edwin Oppler, who fitted out the interior and made some changes to the design.

In 1866, while the castle was still under construction, war broke out between Prussia and Hanover. After Hanover had been annexed by Prussia, King George V left the country, and went into exile in Austria, where Queen Marie joined her husband one year later.

Because of the war, Marienburg Castle has never been finished. The castle was left uninhabited, and it remained so for almost 80 years with only a caretaker in residence. For this reason, the original design is almost completely preserved.

Awoken from its beauty sleep, which had lasted for decades, Marienburg Castle casts its spell again on all visitors with its fantastical architecture and its fairy-tale appearance. Today the almost completely preserved interior and the countless turrets and pinnacles still overwhelm the fascinated guests.

 Marienburg Castle is still private property of the Royal House of Hanover.