Stickhausen Castle, Medieval castle in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Stickhausen Castle is a moated castle in the district of Leer in East Frisia, northern Lower Saxony, Germany. It sits on a small island surrounded by the waters of the Leda river, with stone towers and thick walls still standing today.
The castle was built in the 14th century to control the waterways of the Leda and secure the County of East Frisia. Over the following centuries it changed hands several times before eventually passing into public ownership.
Stickhausen served as the seat of the counts of East Frisia for generations, and that role is still visible in the scale and layout of the complex. Local people see it as a strong symbol of East Frisian identity, and it draws visitors from across the region.
A visit works best in drier months since parts of the grounds are outdoors and can be harder to explore in wet weather. It is worth checking in advance which parts of the site are open to visitors before you travel.
Unlike many medieval castles in the region, Stickhausen is surrounded by actual river water from the Leda rather than a man-made moat, making it a true island fortress. This natural defence made the site very hard to approach on foot during sieges.
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