New Castle

The New Castle in Ingolstadt is a Gothic secular building from the 15th century. It stands beside the Old Castle, once a medieval fortress now called Herzogkasten. Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt, and Duke George the Rich of Bavaria-Landshut ordered its construction. Both belonged to the Wittelsbach dynasty. Louis had spent years in France before returning to Ingolstadt. He began the project in 1418, but only the foundations were finished when he died. The present structure was completed by the Landshut dukes by 1489. Detailed invoices from the time survive, showing how the work was organised. The castle’s design drew on French models Louis admired during his years abroad. Today, the building houses the Bavarian Army Museum, opened in 1972. The museum includes workshops and restaurants inside its walls. Visitors find rooms arranged over several floors, filled with military history displays. The exhibits cover centuries of warfare and soldier life. Outside, the castle overlooks Ingolstadt’s streets and the nearby Old Castle. The contrast between the Gothic stonework and modern museum life is striking. The site remains one of Bavaria’s most important Gothic secular buildings.