Hehlen Castle

The first documented mention of the locality Hehlen occurred in the 9th century. In the 15th century, after the extinction of the original feudal lords, the fief passed to the older branch of the von der Schulenburg family. Fritz von der Schulenburg, a mercenary leader, gained wealth and prestige in imperial service. His wife, Ilse von Saldern, who lived separately from him starting in 1574, had Hehlen Castle built between 1579 and 1584. This construction marked the beginning of a series of noble castles of the Weser Renaissance. Originally designed as a purely representative building, it served no military purpose. The castle remained in the possession of the von der Schulenburg family until 1956. After its sale by Count Johann-Heinrich to the Hannoversche Siedlungsgesellschaft, the furnishings entered the antique market. In 1958, Walter Koch, the owner of Machwitz Kaffee, acquired the estate, which remains in his family's possession to this day.