Marienburg Castle is a Gothic dream turned to reality in the 19th century by King George V, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hannover. This mock medieval castle was only ever lived in for one year, and now captivates visitors with its arts treasures and exquisite décor. The young Guelph princes Ernst August and Christian von Hannover recently opened the beautifully preserved legacy of their forefathers to the public. To fund this, they had to auction off some of the castle's valuable treasures. The proceeds were channelled into a family foundation aimed at preserving the remaining cultural heritage of the Guelph dynasty.

When the King of Hannover Georg V gave his Queen a “castle” as a present in 1857, it was actually just a blank canvas – a hill to the south of Hannover offering panoramic views. In the same year, the royal couple began to build a summer residence, which Queen Marie envisioned as a romantic hilltop castle in the medieval style. Around a rectangular courtyard, the Hanoverian architect Hase built a picturesque, four-winged castle that would enjoy pride of place in a book of fairytales. Imposing walls, pointed towers, battlements and a fortified keep with crenels create the illusion of an impenetrable fortress – an awe-inspiring ensemble of craftsmanship and splendour at their very finest. This medieval ambience is enhanced further still by a chapel modelled on a Parisian church and steeply vaulted galleries decorated with knights' armour.
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