Freudenberg Castle

Freudenberg Castle was probably built as a so-called motte (motte-and-bailey castle) in such a way that a defensible, inhabited tower was erected on a raised mound surrounded by a moat. Later, the complex was enlarged for military or other purposes and the ring of fortifications was extended with new moats.

The "Slot" Freudenberg is first mentioned in a document in 1384 as being in the possession of the Counts of Niederhoya. The oldest spelling of the name is "Vroydenbergh". The name Freudenberg refers to the "mons gaudii" near Jerusalem, which had a namesake near Rome. A dating to the time of the Crusades thus seems probable, especially since the Counts of Oldenburg-Wildeshausen, who were active in the Crusader movement, were at that time bailiffs of Bassum Abbey. Based on further historical evidence, the period of construction can be narrowed down to the years between 1209 and 1213. However, this first castle complex is only mentioned in written sources in 1530 and 1582 under the name "Alte Freudenberg". It was located approximately halfway between the present Amtshaus and Bassum Abbey. So far, no traces of it are known. This castle was then probably moved in the last quarter of the 13th century by the then abbey bailiffs, the Counts of Altbruchhausen, to the area of the present Amtshaus. With the sale of the County of Altbruchhausen to the Counts of Hoya in 1338, the castle came into the possession of this family, who used it as a border castle against the Diocese of Bremen. However, in contrast to other border castles of the Counts of Hoya, it remained relatively insignificant and served primarily as the seat of a Vogt and later an Amtmann.