Brake Castle

Brake Castle is a Weser Renaissance moated castle in Lemgo, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the seat of the Lippe Regional Association. The Weser Renaissance Museum is also located in the castle.

The current state of the castle is the result of alterations and extensions. After 1190, Lord Bernhard II zur Lippe had a stone castle built. Its dimensions were roughly similar to those of the present castle. In 1306, "castrum brac" was first mentioned in writing. It was the preferred seat of the Lords (from 1528 Counts) zur Lippe. In 1447, the castle was conquered and plundered in the Soest Feud. Around 1500, Brake lost importance due to the expansion of Detmold as the main residence. Around 1570, Brake was a widow's residence. Katharina von Waldeck, widow of Simon V, had the hall building (south wing) modernized and the gatehouse renewed. Around 1587, Count Simon VI zur Lippe designated Brake Castle as the seat of government and had the castle expanded in the Renaissance style in 1587. The north wing with the ballroom was built, as well as the tower with princely chambers. In 1663, Count Casimir zur Lippe-Brake had the east wing rebuilt to its present form. The south wing was also redesigned, the Schäferpforte (shepherd's gate) was renewed, and improvements were also made to the dairy and the mills. To the north of the castle, in today's Lindenhaus area, a representative Baroque garden with an orangery was created, designed by Arend Otto and his son Johann Nevelin.

In 1805, the castle's inventory was auctioned off. In 1811, the dilapidated west wing was torn down. In 1819, apartments were built in the north wing. In 1825, the east wing housed the Princely Model Brewery. In 1830, the gatehouse from 1587, which stood at the castle bridge, was demolished. From 1932, Brake Castle was the seat of the Lemgo district administration and, after the regional reform and dissolution of the Lemgo district in 1973, was taken over by the Lippe Regional Association. From 1983, a thorough renovation took place. Since 1986, the Weser Renaissance Museum has been located in the castle.