Old Castle Liebenburg

The construction of Liebenburg, originally known as “Levenborch,” began around 1292 under the patronage of Hildesheim Bishop Siegfried II. Its strategic location served to protect the Prince-Bishopric of Hildesheim from the Dukes of Braunschweig. In 1366, the castle became a pledge to the city of Braunschweig and subsequently secured an important trade route to Goslar. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle was inhabited by various noble families as pledgeholders, including the von Schwicheldt and von Cramm. Liebenburg survived the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud unscathed and fell to Duke Heinrich the Younger of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel in 1523. He used it in 1541/1542 as a hiding place for his mistress Eva von Trott and her children. In 1542, troops of the Schmalkaldic League occupied the castle after taking over the Braunschweig region. Duke Heinrich returned in 1547, but in 1552, Count Vollrad von Mansfeld briefly conquered the castle. During the Thirty Years' War, Liebenburg served as Wallenstein's temporary headquarters in 1625.