Marienburg Castle Pattensen

The Neuschwanstein of the North

Marienburg Castle with its 160 rooms and 30-metre-high lookout towers is also known as the "Neuschwanstein of the North". King George V of Hanover named it after his wife, Queen Marie. Today it is one of the most important neo-Gothic architectural monuments in Germany and is located in the Calenberger Land, the region south of Hanover, 135 metres above sea level on the Marienberg.

The Museum

The magnificent interiors with the historical furniture, the paintings and art objects of the royal Welfen family as well as the fully equipped castle kitchen and library can be visited. The station of Nordstemmen, which lies south of the Marienberg, is part of the castle complex, because it was built as a royal station for the castle. In order to bring history to life, there are many costume tours in addition to the classic castle tours (several times a day).

Queen Marie as building owner

Schloss Marienburg was built between 1858 and 1867, after King George V had given it to his wife Marie as a summer residence on her 39th birthday. Under her supervision as the building owner, the castle was built during the first seven years under the direction of Conrad Wilhelm Hase, the founder of the Hanover School of Architecture. Later his pupil, Edwin Oppeler, took over the work on the castle and the existing building was supplemented by a knights' hall with underfloor heating and a castle kitchen with running hot water.

Georg V. in exile and Maries moving into her castle

When Prussia occupied the Kingdom of Hanover in 1866, Georg V. fled into exile to Austria with his son Ernst August and daughter Frederike. But Marie, in contrast to her husband, who could never see the impressive complex because he had been blind since childhood, could not separate from her fairytale castle. She moved into Marienburg with her daughter Mary and a 40-strong court, but followed her husband to Austria less than a year later in 1867.

The fairytale castle in 1945 as the residence of another royal family

The castle was uninhabited for the following 80 years, until Hereditary Prince Ernst August III moved into Marienburg Castle in 1945 with his wife Viktoria Luise and his children. His family had fled from approaching Soviet troops from their castle (Blankenburg Castle) in the Harz Mountains.

Since 1965, however, the castle no longer served as a residence for this royal family and in 2004 it passed into the possession of Prince Ernst August of Hanover.

By car

Coming from Hanover, the A7 motorway leads in the direction of Kassel to Hildesheim, the nearest town. Leave the A7 at exit 62 Hildesheim and take the B1 towards Hameln. Follow the B1 for 7 km until you reach Mahlerten. There you turn right towards Nordstemmen, drive through this village and at the second roundabout take the exit towards Adensen. Approx. 200 m from the castle, which is signposted from here, you will find sufficient free parking spaces.

By train

Castle Marienburg is about 3 km away from the nearest train station Nordstemmen. From there the "Schloss Marienburg Express" will take you to the castle. This commutes between Nordstemmen and Schloss Marienburg on weekends and public holidays from 10:00 - 18:00. The trip costs € 3.50 per person (round trip € 6.00), for children up to 12 years € 2.00 (round trip € 3.50). There is also a family ticket for 10,00 € (return 18,00 €).