Marienburg Castle

Marienburg Castle (Schloss Marienburg) near Pattensen, about 25 km south of Hanover, is a Gothic Revival fairy-tale castle built for the royal House of Hanover. Rising above the Leine Valley, it is one of northern Germany's most striking 19th-century buildings and has gained a global fan base as the filming location of the Amazon series "Maxton Hall." Before you go, note that most of the interior has been closed for restoration since 2023.

A royal birthday present

In 1857, the blind King George V of Hanover gave the hill and a castle yet to be built to his wife, Queen Marie, for her 39th birthday, renaming the hill Marienberg. Architect Conrad Wilhelm Hase designed a four-wing castle with about 130 rooms in the style of a medieval hilltop fortress, inspired by castles such as Hohenzollern and Stolzenfels. After Prussia annexed Hanover in 1866, the queen lived here only until 1867 before going into exile. Because the castle was her private property, it stayed in the family; since 2020 it has belonged to a foundation.

Current status

In September 2023, the building authority closed most interior rooms after dry rot was found in the roof structure. According to news reports, federal and state governments have committed €27.2 million to the restoration, and a "Masterplan Marienburg 2030" aims to turn the castle into a major attraction. Reopening of the interior is not expected before about 2030. Occasional openings and events have taken place, but planned open days in late 2025 were canceled after crowds of series fans overwhelmed the site. Always check the foundation's latest information before visiting.

What you can still do

• Admire the exterior, with its towers and battlements, best seen from the Leine Valley below.
• Hike the trails on Marienberg hill, laid out as a romantic park when the castle was built, including the ancient ring wall.
• Enjoy the views across the Leine Valley.
• Check whether the courtyard restaurant is open; it has operated on weekends at times.

Allow one to two hours for a walk around the castle.

How to get to Marienburg Castle

By car, the castle is roughly half an hour from Hanover, making it an easy day trip from Hanover. By train, ride to Nordstemmen, the former royal station built to serve the castle; regional trains are covered by the Deutschlandticket. From there it is a little over 1.5 km as the crow flies, crossing the Leine and climbing the hill.

Is it worth visiting?

For fans of "Maxton Hall" or romantic castles, yes, even from the outside, but manage expectations: you most likely will not get inside until the restoration is complete. Combine it with Hildesheim or Hanover's gardens for a fuller day.

Nearby

• Hildesheim, with its UNESCO-listed cathedral and St. Michael's Church.
• Herrenhausen Gardens in Hanover, the grand baroque gardens of the Guelph dynasty.