Gifhorn Castle

Gifhorn, Germany, Germany

---

Gifhorn Castle is a moat‑surrounded Renaissance palace in the town of Gifhorn, Lower Saxony, Germany, built between 1525 and 1581 in the Weser‑Renaissance style as a heavily fortified residence for the dukes of Brunswick‑Lüneburg.

Designed as a trapezoidal fortress with bastion towers, ramparts, and a wide moat, it was strategically located on rising ground at what was then the northern edge of the town and was never captured in battle.

The castle served as the residence of Duke Francis of Gifhorn for about a decade in the 16th century, later housing administration, a grain store, and even a prison, until its fortifications were dismantled in the late 18th century.

After a comprehensive restoration in the late 20th century, it now functions as a cultural and civic center, housing the district museum, offices, and event spaces while remaining one of the most prominent historic landmarks in the Gifhorn region.