Mausoleum Graf Carl von Alten

Mausoleum Graf Carl von Alten stands on a small island surrounded by a ring moat within the Sundern nature reserve located between the districts of Arnum and Wilkenburg. The decaying walls display the original neo-Gothic architectural style of the structure from the 19th century.

Completed in 1842, the structure was designed by architect Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves for the Hanoverian general and built under the direction of Conrad Wilhelm Hase. Its origins trace to the period when Carl von Alten served as a significant military figure during the British influence in the region.

The site is named after Hanoverian-British general Carl von Alten and draws visitors interested in regional history. Local groups use the location for educational programs and events that keep the connection to the past alive.

Access to the mausoleum is provided through marked paths in the nature reserve that are passable year-round. It is advisable to wear sturdy footwear since the ground around the island can be damp and uneven.

One fascinating detail is that the original oak entrance door of the mausoleum, weighing 340 kilograms, resurfaced in 2016 when discovered in a residential house in Gehrden after being lost for years. The return of this entrance portal to the site showed how parts of such historical places often experience their own separate stories.