Löwenburg (Hessen Kassel Heritage)

A pleasure palace for the landgrave

It looks like a mediaeval ruin, but isn´t one: Landgrave William IX had the Löwenburg constructed in his Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe between 1793 and 1801. It was designed to look like the ruins of a knight´s castle to emphasise that his family had already ruled the state since 1567. The complex therefore features all of the essentials of a mediaeval castle – from an imposing keep to lists and an armoury.

William IX had the interior furnished like a prince´s pleasure palace, even though he never actually lived there. With its artificial mediaeval look, valuable collectibles and dressed-up servants, the Löwenburg was above all designed to impress his guests. William was buried in a crypt below the castle chapel.

During an extensive restoration of the Löwenburg from 2005 onwards, the restorators even revived the original furniture. Since 2022, visitors can therefore once more experience the Löwenburg exactly as it was in Landgrave William´s times.