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Founded: 1858-1867Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Germany
Historical period: German Confederation (Germany)
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Marienburg Castle is a Gothic revival castle in Lower Saxony, Germany. It was built between 1858 and 1867 as a birthday present by George V of Hanover to his wife, Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. When Prussia annexed Hanover in 1866 after the battle of Langensalza, the royal family emigrated to Gmunden in Austria, leaving the castle uninhabited for almost 80 years.
Consequently, Marienburg is well preserved, as few renovation occurred until the, no longer royal, family moved back in late 1945, decades after the German revolution and proclamation of the republic at the end of World War I. Ernest Augustus and his wife Viktoria Luise moved to Marienburg from Blankenburg Castle, just a few days before it became part of the Soviet occupation zone at the end of World War II. In 1954 their son, Ernest Augustus IV, opened the castle museum after having moved to nearby Calenberg Demesne.
Today Marienburg is the property of the Marienburg Castle Foundation and is closed for renovations expected to take until 2030.
References: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.