Gesmold Castle

Gesmold Castle is a two-winged Renaissance castle in the Gesmold district of Melle in Lower Saxony. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the A 30.

The oldest mention dates back to 1160. In it, the Lords of Gesmel received the right from Bishop Philipp von Katzenelnbogen of Osnabrück to build a castle to ward off dangers. The settlement was named "Gesmelle", freely translated "Court before Melle". The earliest known lord of the manor by name is Bernhard von Gesmel. He went to the Holy Land as a knight in 1215.

The current castle initially consisted only of a residential and refuge tower, which was built in the 13th century. It was expanded into a castle between 1544 and 1559. The castle complex had two outer bailey and was surrounded by three moats. A drawbridge led over each of these to the main building.

During the Baroque period, a French garden with a grand staircase, an orangery, and a game enclosure were created. Later, the garden and park were redesigned in the English style.

There are four evangelist statues on the castle tower, dating from the time when the castle belonged to the Bishop of Osnabrück.

The owners of the castle were:

• 1215–1400: von Gesmel
• 1400–1540: von dem Bussche (inherited)
• 1540–1608: von Amelunxen (by marriage)
• 1608–1664: Bishop of Osnabrück (by purchase)
• 1664–today: von Hammerstein (by exchange)

Gesmold Castle is the birthplace of the Jesuit priest and writer Ludwig von Hammerstein (1832–1905).