Löwenburg — Attraction in Kassel

Set in the scenery of the Bergpark above Wilhelmshöhe Palace, the castle of Löwenburg, built between 1793 and 1801, was among the earliest mock-medieval »ruins« of Continental Europe. Even within the gesamtkunstwerk of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, it is an outstanding monument in its own right.

Landgrave Wilhelm IX (r. 1785–1821, later Elector Wilhelm I) commissioned his court architect, Heinrich Christoph Jussow (1754–1825), to create the building. The castle was intended to serve two purposes: on the one hand it provided the Landgrave with a maison de plaisance, on the other it was designed to represent the historical status of the House of Hesse, which had been in power since the Middle Ages.

Although the structure resembles a semi-ruined knight's castle from the outside, its interior conforms to the characteristic layout of a Baroque country palace. It also includes, besides the princely apartments, an armoury and a Neo-Gothic chapel. The castle's patron found his final resting place in the crypt beneath the chapel.

The castle's immediate surroundings were laid out to conform to the medieval theme: they included a deliberately old-world castle garden, a vineyard, a tiltyard, and a menagerie. The Wolves' Glen at the foot of the structure was originally intended to provide the setting for a monumental waterfall, which would have become a major element of the park's Romantic water features if it had been built. The project was abandoned early on, however.

The castle's artfully ruinous appearance became a sad fact when the keep and other parts of the structure were destroyed during WWII. Construction work is underway to restore the keep, reinforce the existing structure, and re-furnish the rooms with their original furniture and fittings. Once the work is complete, visitors will be able to experience Löwenburg as it looked in the time of...

Very romantic and picturesque castle!

Löwenburg also known as Lion castle was intentionally built as an artificial ruin castle, therefore it is very rich in decoration and ornaments. Visitors can stroll by its courtyard and admire its features for free. As the major renovations were completed just recently, in July 2022, the castle looks stunning and brand new!

I was, however, disappointed with the organization of the visit! I purchased a 6 EUR combined ticket allowing me to visit the Octagon with Hercules statue and Wilhelmshöhe castle along with the Löwenburg, however I was unable to do so. The only option to visit the inner chambers is with a guided tour that needs to be booked online and in advance. Unfortunately I was not informed about this when buying the ticket in the information center earlier that morning, therefore I was not able to get in as all slots were booked. This quite complex scheme of booking takes all the fun away from exploring such a beautiful place.

Nice views of the castle can be experienced from Turnierplatz, a vertical garden with benches located on the south side. Visited in...

Löwenburg Castle in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel, Germany, is a remarkable example of Neo-Gothic architecture, built between 1793 and 1801. This "Knight’s Castle" features towers, moats, and drawbridges, offering stunning views of the park. Inside, it showcases period furnishings and decorations, highlighting aristocratic life in medieval and early modern times. The castle houses valuable art and historical collections, including armor and paintings. Löwenburg is a testament to cultural heritage and family life, reflecting the era's fascination with historical revival and the aristocracy's domestic settings.

I suggest that you use the guides working in this complex to know more about the history of this castle and go on a tour of the dream castle that matches your imagination of a historical castle. It brings back the beauty of the Robin Hood cartoon that you have seen because it has all the elements and details of a...