Wolfenbüttel Castle

Wolfenbüttel Castle, the second-largest surviving schloss in Lower Saxony, began as a moated fortress in the 11th century and became the main residence of the Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel dukes (1432–1753). Rebuilt multiple times after destruction, it gained Renaissance and Baroque features, including Germany’s first permanent indoor theatre (1590s) and the Hausmannsturm tower (1613).

After the court moved to Brunswick, the castle hosted figures like playwright Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and later became a school (1866). Today it houses a museum with preserved 17th–18th century rooms, the Gymnasium im Schloss, and the Federal Academy for Cultural Education, and serves as a venue for festivals, concerts, and historical reenactments.

Address
Schloßplatz 13, Wolfenbüttel, Germany

Established
16th century