Fairytale castle

Marienburg Castle - Profile

Let yourself be enchanted and be transported back to the courtly life of the 19th century during a visit.

ATTENTION: Due to extensive renovation work, the interior and grounds of Marienburg Castle are temporarily closed to the public!

Marienburg Castle was not only a place of longing for Queen Marie of Hannover. Even today, the castle—which King George V gave to his wife Marie as a birthday present and had furnished “according to the pleasure and wishes of Our beloved Consort […] and for her comfort”*—continues to captivate visitors with its nearly completely preserved interior and its fairy-tale appearance. Although it was not inhabited for long, the queen’s love for her “Eldorado,” as she called the castle, is evident in every corner. The eventful history of Marie, George, and their three children—which ended in exile in Austria—also makes this outstanding historical monument a very special place.

Marienburg Castle: A Fairytale-Like Castle Complex Surrounded by Greenery

A view of the fairytale-like Marienburg Castle through the trees and across a green meadow on a slightly cloudy day

New digital guide

Time travel around the Marienburg

Use the app to explore the history of Marienburg Castle - digitally, interactively and on site at any time.

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Marienburg Castle - 360° Tour

Click here for the 360° tour of Marienburg Castle.

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History of origin

The construction of Marienburg Castle, which today lies within the city limits of Pattensen (Region Hannover) near Hildesheim, is linked to a touching story: In 1857, the blind King George V, the last King of Hanover, gave his wife, Queen Marie, the Marienberg—which was named after her from that point on—and the castle, which was yet to be built, as a birthday gift. The castle named after her was originally intended as a summer residence. It was thus conceived from a romantic vision of life: a fairytale castle built on a hill, with towers, a castle chapel, custom-designed furnishings, and imaginatively painted vaults.

The architects Conrad Wilhelm Hase and Edwin Oppler eventually built the palace between 1857 and 1867 in the Neo-Gothic style. Construction was not yet fully completed when, in 1867, the Kingdom of Hanover lost the war against Prussia. Queen Marie was forced to move with her court from Herrenhausen Palace to Marienburg Castle, her private residence. As a result of the ongoing political unrest, Queen Marie followed her husband into exile in Austria in 1867. They never returned to Hanover.