Ahlden Castle

The origins of the current Ahlden Castle lie in the 16th century, when it was built on the riverbank opposite the older Bunkenburg, which today only exists in remnants. Bunkenburg, whose origin is presumed to be in the 13th century, once belonged to the family von Ahlden, who lost their property in 1431 in a dispute with the Diocese of Minden and the Welfs, whereby Ahlden fell to the Duke of Lüneburg. The current castle, a three-winged half-timbered building, the oldest part of which, the south wing, was completed in 1579 under Duke Wilhelm the Younger, was built starting in 1549. The west wing was erected in 1613 by Duke Christian the Elder, while the north wing was redesigned in 1705. From 1431, the castle was the seat of the princely office of Ahlden, which existed until 1884. During the Thirty Years' War, it was occupied by imperial troops in 1626.