Tonenburg Castle

The complex includes the fortified castle, the farmstead with the Ackerhaus (farmhouse) from 1675, an old distillery from 1660, which is now used as a restaurant, as well as a rye barn and farm buildings from 1708. The entire castle complex has been restored. Part of this complex is also a 700-year-old, 18-meter-deep well.

The fortified castle was built in 1315 by Corvey Abbot Ruprecht von Horhausen (according to other sources, Ruprecht von Tomberg) for defense against the Dukes of Braunschweig and the Counts of Everstein, who resided at the neighboring Everstein Castle in Polle. Shortly after its construction, the Castrum was attacked and captured by the Count of Everstein. In 1332, the Welfs under Otto and Magnus of Braunschweig in turn conquered the Tonenburg. In 1343, Hermann von Everstein renounced his claims to the Tonenburg and reconciled with his liege lord, Abbot Dietrich I von Dalwigk.

Later, the Tonenburg was also used as a residence and refuge for the Abbots of Corvey. For example, Abbot Theodor von Beringhausen resided at the Tonenburg during the "Höxter Rebellion of 1603".

In the southern vicinity of the Tonenburg estate, lignite was mined underground in Höxter-Nachtigall from 1795 to 1923 at the Nachtigall lignite mine and belonged to the Alkaliwerke Ronnenberg. Also near the Tonenburg was the clay pit of the Johann Buch field brickworks. Later, the pit was used for waste disposal until the 1980s.

In 1995, the castle was sold by Viktor Herzog von Ratibor and Fürst zu Corvey to the couple Norbert and Paula Pirone, who had already operated a catering and accommodation facility for motorcyclists with Villa Löwenherz in Lauenförde since 1978. The entire Tonenburg complex was also converted into a motorcycle meeting point by 1998. With this concept, the building could be economically preserved.

Today, the castle offers rooms for overnight stays, a dormitory, and a tent meadow. For larger festivals and celebrations, the Old Ackerhaus is available, where the non-profit association ClubMusik e.V. regularly organizes concerts by renowned bands from the rock and blues genres. The Ballhaus Felsenkeller disco has also found its home here as part of revival parties.