Harburger Castle

The first documentary mention of the complex as "Horeburg" (castle in the swamp) dates between 1133 and 1137, although archaeological finds suggest its existence as early as the year 1000. The castle was probably built on a sand island in marshy terrain on the Süderelbe as a border fortress for the Counts of Stade. From 1527 until 1642, it served as the residence of the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, a collateral line of the Welfs, who expanded it into a Renaissance castle with three building wings. During the Thirty Years' War, around 1644, it was converted into a Baroque fortress, with the castle island acquiring its characteristic pentagonal star shape. For this, parts of the surrounding urban development had to be removed. In the Seven Years' War, the castle was besieged and shelled by French troops. It suffered further damage in 1813 from a fire during the French occupation. After 1813, the remaining parts housed the Harburg administrative office. In the course of the industrial development of Harburg Port from the mid-19th century, the castle moats were partially integrated into the harbor basins. The still-preserved wing was converted into a workers' residence in 1900. After a monument protection registration in 1944 was lifted in 1950, the east wing was demolished in 1972. The remaining part was again placed under monument protection in 1988.

Harburg Castle is located on the castle island in the Harburg inland port, in the Hamburg-Harburg district, situated in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Germany. It lies at an elevation of approximately 8 m above sea level.

Today, the preserved side wing of Harburg Castle houses apartments. Although the external appearance no longer resembles a stately complex, cellar vaults and parts of the outer walls, likely from the 14th century, bear witness to its long history. The outlines of the former citadel are still partially visible along the quay edges of the castle island.

• Adelssitz Wilhelmsburg (Residence), approx. 3.0 km away
• Palais Görtz (Residence), approx. 9.0 km away
• Neuer Mariendom (Sacred Building), approx. 10.0 km away
• U-Boot-Bunker Fink II (Military Structures), approx. 11.8 km away