Marburg Stadt + Land

Castle of the Landgrave

© Georg Kronenberg

Dominating the landscape, the primary residence of Hesse’s Landgraves was built as fortress on a rocky outcrop known as the Gisonenfelsen. The earliest traces of habitation date back to around 1000 AD, making the Castle of the Landgrave one of the first hill castles in Germany and the nucleus for the growth of the town of Marburg.

Castle of the Landgrave, royal residence, fortress – the Gothic and late-Gothic structure with Renaissance additions represents a unique and diverse history. The casement, located at the castle´s moat and park, are also testament to this.

One important part of the castle, which is now owned by the university, is home to the Museum for Cultural History and its collection of pre-historic and ancient artefacts from Hesse relating to religious art and town life.