Löwenburg Castle

Löwenburg Castle in Kassel looks like a crumbling medieval fortress, but it is actually a romantic fantasy built at the end of the 18th century. Set in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, this artificial ruin was created for Landgrave William IX, complete with towers, a jousting yard, an armory, and a chapel. Reopened in 2022 after a long restoration, it is one of the most unusual castles in Germany.

A ruin by design

Court architect Heinrich Christoph Jussow built the castle mainly between 1793 and 1801. It is one of the earliest Gothic Revival buildings in Germany and was deliberately designed to look partly ruined, telling a story of the ancient House of Hesse. William IX, later Elector William I, used it as a private retreat, and he was buried in the crypt below the chapel in 1821.

Bombing in 1943 destroyed much of the main keep. A major restoration from 2005 to 2022 rebuilt the keep and restored the interiors, and the castle reopened to visitors in July 2022. Film buffs may recognize it from a brief appearance in Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel.

What to see

• Princely apartments: four suites furnished with original historic pieces.
• The armory: suits of armor and weapons from the 16th and 17th centuries.
• The chapel: fitted with objects taken from medieval churches, above the founder's tomb.
• The keep and jousting yard: the castle's signature silhouette.

Tickets and opening hours

The interior can only be visited on a guided tour, starting on the hour, with the last tour one hour before closing; reserve ahead online. As of October 2026, hours are:

• April 1 to October 31: Tuesday to Sunday and holidays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
• November 1 to March 31: Friday to Sunday and holidays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

The Wilhelmshöhe day ticket costs €8 (reduced €5, free under 18) and also covers Wilhelmshöhe Palace and, depending on the season, the Hercules monument or the Great Greenhouse. Ask the visitor service about English-language tours, as the regular schedule is in German.

How to get to Löwenburg Castle

Kassel is in northern Hesse, about an hour and a half from Frankfurt by ICE to Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe station. From there, tram line 1 runs to the Wilhelmshöhe (Park) terminus, followed by an uphill walk of around half an hour through the park. The castle is not fully wheelchair accessible. Prices are in euros (EUR).

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially combined with the rest of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe. Allow about 90 minutes for the castle tour and grounds, or a full day for the park, the Hercules monument, and the palace's Old Masters gallery.

Nearby

• Hercules monument and cascades: Kassel's landmark, with water features from May to early October.
• Wilhelmshöhe Palace: home to an Old Masters picture gallery.
• Fridericianum: the historic documenta venue in downtown Kassel.