Hello friends. Last year, we went to the small town in the north of Hannover to see the legendary Marienburg Castle. The castle was gifted to his wife by the late King Georg V of Hannover. Known as the Blind King due to his vision impairment, the king famously presented Marienburg Castle to his wife on her thirtieth birthday. Queen Marie and their daughter lived in the castle for only a year before being exiled. The queen, saddened by leaving the castle, never returned to Hannover again. Such a poignant tale surrounds this castle. Perched atop a hill 135 meters above ground, the castle is visible from all around.
As we approached the castle, its beauty enchanted us even from afar, revealing its magical and extraordinary allure. It seemed straight out of fairy tales,filled with princesses and dragons, as if time had stood still here. In a way, we couldn't help but think of Hogwarts from Harry Potter—it was just as enchanting.
We made our way to the castle through a tunnel and along a path surrounding the castle. According to legend, the castle gates were guarded by mythical dwarves who dwelled atop the hill.
Upon entering the castle grounds, we found ourselves in an inner courtyard surrounded by towers, each serving a different purpose. Some towers even had their own entrances.
As we wandered through the courtyard, we came across the royal toilet housed in a tower beside a restaurant. While the toilet might have been fit for royalty, we found no evidence of the fabled golden toilets as depicted in tales.
After purchasing our entry tickets, which cost €13.50 per person, we were greeted by the Knights Hall upon entering. Adorning the hall were portraits of members of the royal dynasty alongside a table.
Adjacent to the Knights Hall was a lounge with a fireplace, featuring a bust of the King of Hannover and paintings depicting the courage of the royal family in battles. From there, we ascended to the second floor via a corridor.
On the second floor, we encountered rooms themed around various aspects of royal life. These rooms displayed paintings, photographs, clothing and everyday items depicting the daily lives of the royal family. Some rooms even showcased meticulously reconstructed interiors from the era. A spiral staircase led us to a tower, with a pathway adjacent to it descending to the main entrance of the castle.
Descending to the first floor after passing through the Knights Hall, we arrived at the opulent and luxurious wing. This area was where the Queen resided with her daughter and entertained guests. All the rooms were adorned in the same style and colors, embellished with crystal chandeliers, paintings, and fireplaces. From these rooms, we entered the queen's library, exquisitely decorated with a fresco on the ceiling depicting famous scientists and composers.
After leaving the library, we explored the children's rooms of the royal family. The entire corridor where the rooms were located, especially the ceiling, was painted in a manner reminiscent of the grandeur of royal palaces. At the end of the corridor, there was a separate exit leading to the outside.
We toured all the floors, exiting through the center of the castle. Although the castle boasts around 150 rooms, half of them were closed during our visit. Nearly every room had a fireplace, but I can't imagine the amount of staff needed to tend to them. What I mean is, constantly wandering through rooms and checking if the fire is lit, especially in the cold weather of Northern Germany.
Fortunately, as the day drew to a close, approximately 150 lights illuminated the castle. It's a place where you'd want to feel like a prince or princess for a minute. It's an incredibly beautiful and magnificent castle. Understanding how it was built with the technology of the time, without the internet and Disney, is quite difficult. Visiting this castle was as much about turning back time as it was about experiencing its beauty. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting this legendary castle.