A charming medieval neo-Gothic building, standing, as if in a fairy tale, at the top of Marienburg, twenty kilometers south of Hanover, is the Marienburg castle in Germany, a symbol of George V's love for his wife Maria of Saxe-Altenburg. The building was originally conceived as a summer residence of the ruler, it never performed defensive functions, therefore it has a bright, memorable architecture. It is difficult not to notice the castle, and it is almost impossible to take your eyes off it when you see it in the distance. To this day, the castle is in its original form and continues to receive visitors.
Castle history
The castle was built by the architect Konrad Wilhelm Hase on a plot of land donated by George the Fifth to his wife Maria. Construction began in 1858 and lasted 9 years.
The owners of the castle did not enjoy life in the new palace - in those years the Austro-Prussian War began. In 1866, Georg supported Austria, which was eventually defeated. Hanover was taken by Prussian troops, and the king had to abdicate power, emigrate to Austria, and then to France.
Queen Mary remained in the castle, which is often named after her today. The palace was her property, so she could continue to live there. Nevertheless, a year later, Maria decided to move - the thing is that the new masters of the kingdom gave her an ultimatum: get rid of her servants and hire new staff. By and large, Mary was offered to get rid of people loyal to her and remain alone in the circle of ill-wishers.
For eighty years, the castle has not been used by anyone, this explains how well it has survived to this day. It is noteworthy that not only the facade has been preserved, but also the interior furnishings, including pieces of furniture, dishes, weapons and works of art.
Architecture
Despite the fact that the castle was built in the nineteenth century, its architecture fully corresponds to the classical canons of the Middle Ages. More precisely, it belongs to the neo-Gothic.
Although this trend spread later, its popularity was promoted by nostalgia for the sharp, sharp and chiseled forms of Gothic. It is not surprising that this style has incorporated all the basic characteristics.
Tourists immediately notice the expressive turrets of the Marienburg Castle, irregular and rather complex shapes, massive vaults and spiers.
The entire palace seems to be stretching upward, and this is also a feature of the neo-Gothic direction.
How to get to the castle
Parking may be required for tourists traveling by car.
We advise you to park your vehicle completely free of charge and not far from the castle - on the Marienburg hill. Tourists say that the most beautiful photographs of the facade are obtained on the way from the parking lot to the residence.
The most convenient way to get to the castle by car is the A2 motorway if you are heading from Berlin or Dortmund. Then take the A7 motorway until turn 62 Hildesheim.
Travelers by bus will need route number 300, it starts from the Central Bus Station (Hanover), go to the Pattensen stop, then by bus number 301 to the Marienburg Abzweig Nord stop and from there on foot to the gate (about two kilometers). If you go by train, then from the station of the Nordstemmen station you will have to walk as much as three kilometers.
On weekends, a tourist road train runs from Nordstemmen to Marienburg Castle, a one-way trip costs € 2.5, and round trip - € 4.5.
Opening hours, ticket prices
Despite the fact that the castle is open to the public, it has an owner - Crown Prince Ernst-August of Hanover, a descendant of King George and Queen Mary. It was he who had the initiative to sell a significant part of the treasures at auction in order to create a fund to maintain Marienburg in good condition.
But don't worry - many interesting exhibits are still kept inside.
You can get to the castle only with a guided tour, photography inside is prohibited, as in all buildings that have owners, since they are considered private property.
Contact phone: +49 (0) 5069 348 000, official website: https://www.schloss-marienburg.com/
The castle remains open from 4 March to 4 November, from 10:00 to 17:00. The first excursion starts at 10.30 and lasts an hour and a half.
A ticket inside costs 7 euros, for groups of 15 people and more, there is a 50% discount. Tours are not available in Russian, but you can take a convenient audio guide at the entrance.
Conclusion
Marienburg is not a very well-known castle among Russian tourists, but it is worth visiting for all those who are fond of architecture, history, or simply want to see with their own eyes a unique structure that has survived to this day in its original form. Tours for tourists are held daily during the warm season.
