The moated castle near Winsen, which at first sight seems less like a castle, has been enchanting its visitors for over 700 years with a romantic backdrop directly by the Luhe.
The moated castle in Winsen is one of the highlights in the metropolitan region. The secular construction attracts tourists to the metropolitan region every year. In addition to weddings and concerts, guided tours also take place. The main user of the rooms is the city's district court.
History of the moated castle in Winsen
In 1299 Winsen Castle was mentioned for the first time. It was built on the shallow waters of the Luhe from a former castle and has been rebuilt several times in its 700-year history. For the most part, the moated castle served as a residence for princes and dukes. In the 14th and 15th centuries, however, the town of Lüneburg was also the owner of the castle. The castle was temporarily sold to the Hanseatic cities of Hamburg and Lübeck before it returned to Lüneburg. During the Thirty Years' War the castle also served as a headquarters for various army commanders. In 1852 the district court of Winsen returned.
Formerly a castle, today the district court
Where the nobility used to reside, files are now stored and cases examined. The Winsen District Court has been the sole user of the castle since the 1990s. Until then, the use of the premises had changed again and again. Both the district administrations of Winsen and the land registry office stayed in the magnificent building for several years. Today, Winsen Castle is not completely open to guests due to its use. The castle garden and the courtyard of the castle, which were also part of the Landesgartenschau 2006, are freely accessible. There is a small museum in the castle tower.
Only one day trip away from Hamburg
The castle in Winsen an der Luhe is only a day trip away from Hamburg. With the regional train you can reach Winsen in less than half an hour without changing trains. With around 35,000 inhabitants, Winsen is one of the medium-sized cities in Germany. But the city in Lower Saxony is not only worth a day visit because of the moated castle in Winsen. Many sights and green spaces adorn the ancient city and invite you to linger. Not far from the moated castle in Winsen lies the Marstall, which today houses the Tourist Information and a small museum.
