Steinhaus Bunderhee, Medieval tower fortress in Bunderhee, Germany
Steinhaus Bunderhee is a multi-story brick building in Bunde, Lower Saxony, with a medieval core and a later western wing added in the 18th century. The walls are very thick, and the small window openings in the facade reflect the defensive character of the original structure.
The building dates to the 14th century, when it was built as a residence for an East Frisian chieftain and also served as a fortified storage facility. A baroque western wing was added in 1735, giving the complex a different appearance and function.
Since around 2016–2017 the Ostfriesische Landschaft has used part of the house as a museum on East Frisian history, especially the chieftains. The historical keyboard instruments once kept here moved in 2002 to the Organeum in Weener. From 2002 to 2008 the tower served the artist Elisabeth Tatenberg and the architect Jan Timmer as studio and dwelling under the name "Kunsthaus Steinhaus".
The building stands at Steinhausstrasse 64 and is not freely open to visitors, so it is best to arrange a visit in advance. Reaching out beforehand helps confirm access and any conditions for the visit.
Archaeological digs in 1977 and test borings in 1999 showed that a waterway once linked the Steinhaus moat with the Dollart, so ships could call at Bunderhee. The pond with its small hill north of the tower is not a remnant of that channel but part of late 19th-century garden design.
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