Wolfsburg Castle

Wolfsburg Castle, first mentioned in 1302, began as a medieval tower house on the River Aller and developed into a fortified water castle. Built and expanded by the noble von Bartensleben family, it featured a strong bergfried, moats, and later four wings with towers around a courtyard. By the 16th–17th centuries it was transformed into a Weser Renaissance palace, richly decorated yet still defensible, making it the northernmost example of this architectural style.

For centuries it served as both residence and fortress, guarding trade routes and local estates. Hans von Bartensleben, known as “the Wealthy,” financed major expansions, while later generations added the ornate east and south wings, completing the palace in 1620. After the Bartensleben line ended in 1742, the castle passed to the counts of Schulenburg. Surrounded by water until the 19th century, the Wolfsburg gave its name to the modern city founded nearby in 1938, and remains one of Lower Saxony’s most important historic buildings.

Address
Schloßstraße 6, Wolfsburg, Germany

Established
13th century