Burgdorf Castle

The historic center of the city

The castle, the historic heart of the city, is one of the most beautiful half-timbered buildings and stands on the site where the old “castrum burgtorfe” was located in the 13th century. This fortification was destroyed and rebuilt three times over the course of history. The current structure was built in 1643 and renovated between 1979 and 1981.

The name of the present-day town of Burgdorf is first mentioned in the feudal description of Bishop Otto I of Hildesheim (1261–1279). In 1433, the local ruler, Duke Otto von der Heide, expanded the castle and fortified the town with a rampart, a moat, and three gates. Burgdorf was further expanded in the years that followed, but was also destroyed several times by wars and fires. Burgdorf retained its old townscape until the earlier fortifications were leveled and dismantled around 1802. While it was owned by the Guelph dukes, the castle served as a hunting lodge and conference venue for them. Since 1705, however, it has served exclusively as an administrative seat and has been owned by the Hanover district since 1976.

Today, the castle can be visited and the Auetal valley with its castle and town park as well as the wetland biotope created in 1985 invites you to stroll and discover.

The Burgdorf Castle Concerts

The Burgdorf Castle Concerts take place as part of an annual series of seven chamber music concerts, held every Sunday at 5 p.m. in the castle’s council chamber. The concerts are jointly organized by the Scena Cultural Association and the City of Burgdorf. The season begins in September and ends in May of the following year. The sophisticated program ranges from piano recitals and sonata programs to trio and quartet performances, as well as larger chamber music ensembles.

The baroque concert series "The 4 Seasons"

In addition to the castle concerts, the Scena Cultural Association presents the Baroque concert series “The Four Seasons,” featuring four concerts a year, which also take place on Sundays at 5 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Burgdorf Castle.
Season tickets and individual tickets for both series are available in Burgdorf at Wegener’s Bookstore (Marktstraße 65), at Bleich Printing and Stamping (Braunschweiger Straße 2), and by phone at the Scena service number 05147 – 720937. The Scena Cultural Association will gladly send you the annual programs upon request (email: info@scena-burgdorf.de); they are also available at www.scena-burgdorf.de.