Gifhorn Castle

Schloss Gifhorn stands on a hill in the northern edge of Gifhorn, built between 1525 and 1581 in the Weser Renaissance style. It was designed as a fortified castle with moats up to 50 metres wide and four bastion towers linked by underground passages. The castle was never captured despite being fortified until 1790, serving as a stronghold for the Duchy of Gifhorn under Duke Francis for just ten years. Its trapezium shape and strategic position between the Aller and Ise rivers made it a key defensive site. The castle’s history traces back to a moated predecessor built around 1000, mentioned in a 1296 deed as Castrum Gifhorne. Duke Francis expanded it as his residence, commissioning architect Michael Clare to shape its grand appearance. The castle is worth visiting for its unique architecture and historical significance. It contains the first Protestant chapel in Germany, built in 1547, with statues of Duke Francis and his wife Clara. The Great Hall, or Rittersaal, in the Ablagerhaus reflects the castle’s role as a centre of noble life. The gatehouse, completed in 1526, features an unusual roof with semi-circular gables unlike any other preserved example. The Kommandantenhaus later became the seat of the county court in the 19th and 20th centuries. The castle museum displays Gifhorn’s development over centuries in 1,000 square metres of exhibition space. Visitors find a restored inner courtyard surrounded by the gatehouse, chapel, and Ablagerhaus. The north bastion houses exhibitions in a preserved 45-metre-long section of the original rampart passage. The reconstructed south bastion now serves as the main entrance. The castle restaurant offers views over the former moat area, now part of the town. The Great Hall hosts events, while the museum traces Gifhorn’s history from ancient times. The site blends defensive structures with noble living spaces, reflecting its layered past.