Iburg Castle, Castle and Benedictine abbey in Bad Iburg, Germany.
Iburg is a castle with adjoining Benedictine monastic buildings in Bad Iburg that blends medieval fortifications with later construction phases spanning centuries. The complex includes princely chambers, monastery wings, and several chapels built across different periods of expansion.
The castle began in 1070 when Bishop Benno I built new fortifications on earlier ruins as a residence for the Prince-Bishops of Osnabrück. Over centuries, a Benedictine monastery was added to the site and the whole complex underwent multiple rebuildings.
The Knights Hall displays elaborate frescoes by Italian artist Andrea Alovisii that show how nobility and clergy used decoration to express their power. The painted walls reveal what mattered to medieval German rulers in how they wanted to be seen and remembered.
The castle is only open for group visits and guided tours, so advance planning is essential for a visit. The routes take visitors through the main monastery rooms and princely chambers at a set pace.
Sophia Charlotte of Hanover, who became the first Queen of Prussia, was born within these walls in 1668. She later became a key figure in European diplomacy and a patron of the arts and philosophy.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
