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Founded: 16th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Reformation & Wars of Religion (Germany)
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Welfenschloss Münden is a former ducal palace in Hann. Münden, Lower Saxony. Originally part of the medieval town fortifications, the castle was built starting in 1501 by Duke Erich I of Brunswick-Lüneburg in Gothic style. A previous medieval fortress likely existed on the site.
After a fire in 1560, Duke Erich II rebuilt the castle from 1571 in Weser Renaissance style as a four-wing complex. Only the north and east wings remain today, as the south wing burned down in 1849 and the west wing was never completed.
The north wing, about 95 meters long, features rich ornamentation including gables with obelisks, statues, and heraldic symbols. It houses the castle chapel and Renaissance rooms with wall paintings, such as the 'Roman Room' and the 'White Horse Room', created around 1574. These rooms contain rare Renaissance frescoes with biblical and classical themes, restored in the late 20th century.
The castle façade is painted in its original pink and grey color scheme.
After losing its function as a residence in 1584, the castle was used sporadically. It suffered heavy damage during the Thirty Years' War and was later repurposed as a barracks (from 1741) and then as a grain storehouse.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, it housed the district court, forestry academy, tax office, and local museum. After a period of vacancy, the castle was renovated from 1981–1987.
Today, it hosts the city museum, library, archive, and restored Lepanto and Knight’s Halls, now used for events.
Duino Castle was built by the Wallsee family in 1389 on the cliffs overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. It replaced an older castle from the 11th century. Over time, the Wallsee family disappeared and the castle, after having been used as a prison, became the residence of the Luogar and Hofer.
At the end of the 19th century it became the property of Prince Alexander von Thurn und Taxis from the Czech branch of the House of Thurn and Taxis. It remains with the family to this day with his great-grandson Prince Carlo Alessandro della Torre e Tasso, Duke of Castel Duino the current owner. The castle has been opened to the public as a museum and park.