Schöningen Castle

Around 1350, Welf Duke Magnus I of Brunswick-Lüneburg founded Schöningen Castle as a hunting seat and border fortification. In 1542, it suffered damage during the Schmalkaldic War. At the beginning of the 16th century, it was converted into a castle, which served as a widow's residence for three Brunswick duchesses until the 17th century: Sophia Jagiellonica, Elisabeth of Denmark, and Anna Sophia of Brandenburg, all of whom had an influence on its design. Duchess Elisabeth, for instance, had the palas redesigned in the Renaissance style and new wings built. In 1661, the complex was de-fortified.