Gadebusch Castle

The origins of the current castle date back to the 8th century, when a Slavic ring-fort of the Obotrites stood on this site. After its conquest by Henry the Lion in 1143, the castle fell to the County of Ratzeburg. Between 1200 and 1204, it was occupied by the Danes before being expanded into a solid brick castle with a freestanding stone keep in the 13th century. From 1283 to 1299, Gadebusch served as the main residence of Mecklenburg princes. The current Renaissance castle was built between 1570 and 1573 under Administrator Christoph von Mecklenburg, executed by master builder Christoph Haubitz. The terracottas originate from the Lübeck workshop of Statius von Düren. In 1675, the Prussian Elector Frederick William and the Danish King Christian V met here to seal an alliance in the Scanian War.