Fürstliches Residenzschloss

The origins of the palace lie in an old castle, first mentioned in 1366. Presumably, an economic court of the Paderborn bishop stood at the same location as early as the late 8th or early 9th century. The expansion into a moated castle occurred at the latest with the founding of Detmold in 1263. During the Soest Feud in 1447, the castle was plundered and destroyed by Bohemian mercenaries. Subsequently, Bernhard VII of Lippe had the complex expanded into a fortress. From 1468, he chose Detmold as his permanent residence. In 1549, Bernhard VIII appointed master builder Jörg Unkair, who transformed the castle into a four-wing complex in the Weser Renaissance style. After Unkair's death in 1553, Johann Robyn and Cord Tönnies continued the work.