Agathenburg Castle

Count Hans Christoph von Königsmarck, a military commander during the Thirty Years' War and later Governor-General of the Duchies of Bremen-Verden, had Agathenburg Castle built as his country residence. Its completion took place in 1655. The castle was named after his wife, Agathe von Leesten, with the name later being transferred to the surrounding village. However, Königsmarck could only rarely inhabit his new home, as he was imprisoned from 1656 to 1660 and died in 1663. His wife used the castle as her main residence, and after her death in 1671, it remained in family ownership until 1694. Following an unclear inheritance, the Electorate of Hanover acquired the property in 1740. From 1753, it served as the official seat for the Stade administration.