Schlüsselburg Castle

The castle and subsequently the town of Schlüsselburg arose due to fierce border disputes between the Counts of Hoya and the Bishop of Minden. In 1335, Ludwig von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Bishop of Minden, erected the Schlüsselburg on an island in the Weser, and in return, the Counts of Hoya secured their territory with a fortified house in Stolzenau. In the immediate vicinity of the castle, the "Vorburg" (outer bailey), the castle's servants settled.

With the Thirty Years' War, the plundering, and the five devastating fire catastrophes between 1617 and 1711, the town became increasingly impoverished. The chronicle reports that the first great conflagration in 1617 completely reduced the town to ashes, except for the church, the castle, and a burgher's and baker's house. This catastrophe is still commemorated today by the Fire Memorial Day, which is celebrated annually on September 4th with a church service.

The manor house was completely rebuilt by Ludolf von Klencke from 1581 to 1585. It is a simple two-story plastered building with triangular gables. A stork's nest has been on the chimney above the north gable for many decades (at least since 1935). Today, the manor house is privately owned.