Gifhorn Castle, Renaissance castle in Gifhorn, Germany
Gifhorn Castle is a 16th-century ducal residence in the town of Gifhorn, Lower Saxony, surrounded on all sides by a wide moat. Its trapezoidal layout features a tower at each corner, and the facades carry the decorative stonework typical of Weser Renaissance architecture.
Duke Francis of Brunswick-Luneburg had the castle built between 1525 and 1581, turning it into the seat of his territory. Over the following centuries it lost its military role and was eventually converted into a museum open to the public.
The castle chapel from the 16th century is considered the first Protestant church on German soil and holds the tombs of Duke Francis and Clara of Lauenburg. Stepping inside, visitors can see how the ruling family turned a religious shift into something carved in stone.
The castle sits in the center of Gifhorn and is easy to reach on foot from the train station. The moat and grounds can be walked freely, while the museum inside is open during regular visiting hours.
Underneath the castle runs a network of underground passages called Wallgänge that once linked the corner towers to the main building. One section of these tunnels has been kept and can be entered, showing how the defenses were organized from below ground.
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