Marienburg Castle
Description
Marienburg Castle near Hildesheim was built between 1346–1349 by Bishop Henry III to strengthen control over the increasingly independent city. Strategically placed on the river Innerste, it featured thick walls, a tall keep, and double moats.
After the Thirty Years' War, it lost military importance and became a residence, later a government-owned domain. A small village grew around it and became part of Hildesheim in 1974. Remarkably, the castle survived WWII undamaged. It later housed a canning and ice cream factory before being acquired by the University of Hildesheim in 1993. The city bought it in 2005.
Architecturally, the castle retains much of its medieval structure. Key features include a 31-meter-high keep and a large Romanesque palas with thick walls and a great hall. An 18th-century baroque tenant house and other later additions complete the site.
Today, Marienburg is partially open to the public and used for university purposes, with scenic paths and occasional exhibitions.