Gieselwerder Castle

As early as the 11th century, a small moated castle with a manor house, a keep, and a few outbuildings stood on the former Weser island of “Gieselwerder.” Around 1231, the castle came into the possession of the Archbishop Siegfried III of Mainz, who appointed the Counts of Dassel as castellans and also recruited castellans from the castles of Schöneberg and Ziegenberg. In 1257, under Bishop Gerhard I, Mainz lost the castle in a feud to the Welf Duke Albrecht the Great. Ownership of the castle was disputed several times thereafter. Until 1538, Gieselwerder served as the administrative seat for the Lords of Werder. After the administrative seat was moved to Sababurg Castle, the court and the customs office for water and land tolls remained, while the castle itself fell into disrepair. In the early 18th century, a half-timbered house was built on this site, which housed the rent office from 1851.