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Founded: 1688Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Thirty Years War & Rise of Prussia (Germany)
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The Wendhausen Castle is built in a Renaissance style surround by a large moat. The moat has an oblong shape with the castle being at the far eastern end. The western area within the moat was part of a beautiful and ornate gardens.
The first mention of a moated castle at this location was in 1325 and was in the possession of the Duke of Braunschweig. Throughout its early history, it has numerous owners and was repeatedly burned. In 1602, the castle was completely destroyed. In 1682, the property was given to Philipp Ludwig Probst. A water tower was constructed the same year. Probst, the Chancellor of the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, began building the Renaissance-style castle on the foundations of the moated castle dating to the 14th century. The complex included a cavalier house, barn, gatehouse and stables. The castle was completed in 1688. After Probst, Konrad Detlev von Dehn owned the castle and remodeled it using Versailles as a model. With his vision, he designed parks complete with gondolas.
A number of owners followed Dehn until the prominent Vieweg family leased the estate in 1836 and finally purchased the castle in 1873. The Vieweg's were well-known publishers from nearby Braunschweig and created a large art collection. The last Vieweg heir died in February 1939 and the art was auctioned off in the following spring. The city of Braunschweig purchased the estate in 1941.
Today the castle is owned by the architect Carsten Henze who restored the property between 1992 and 1995, who in between 1995 and 2002 dedicated the southern wing, including the castle's representative ballroom to housing his private gallery. Today, a number of sculptures by the German artist Denis Stuart Rose are displayed in the castle's park.
References:Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.