In front of you you will see an information sign that will familiarize you with the individual building parts of the castle.
It is a former swamp castle, often referred to as the oldest still preserved swamp castle in Europe, as this area has very swampy terrain.
This is due to the two rivers Aller and Ohre that flow here. They form a watershed and swamp the area with their frequent floods.
This castle is largely the same in terms of its design and structure as it was once built around 800 years ago.
Today it is assumed that there was probably already a previous castle at this point.
However, this was only a castle made of wood or a hill fort to protect the population and their owners.
This protection was necessary because the area was in the incidence area of the Wends.
But the notorious Saxon Wars about 900 years ago may also have contributed to this.
At the same time, it served to protect and monitor important traffic routes.
The various owners and fiefdoms have left their building traces on this castle.
However, the essential elements are still as they were built in the late Romanesque period.
Natural stone was mainly used as building material for the castle.
Because the Velpker quarries partly belonged to the Oebisfeld lords of the castle at that time.
It should be mentioned that after the Middle Ages, the castle was never expanded into a mansion, since since 1587 it has only been inhabited and managed by administrators.
It had never been upgraded to a modern castle for them.
The only exception is the period of about a decade around 1700, when a prince of Hesse took it as his residence here.
To this end, he had some rooms expanded for himself as befits his status.
If you are now wondering why a Prince of Hesse lived here, then you should know that from 1694-1866 the Landgraves of Hesse, and after the transfer of inheritance until 1916, the Landgraves of Darmstadt owned the castle and the Oebisfelde office.
The Hessian lion on the roof turret above the main entrance still indicates the Hessian property.
In addition to the office, i.e. the castle with its farm buildings, the city structure has been preserved over the centuries.
There are hardly any agricultural farms within the city walls.
The homeowners, however, had a garden outside the city wall for their personal care and maintenance, or on a modest scale at their house.
The sand island, in the alluvial sand area of the Aller and partly also of the Ohre, determined the shape of the town.
The castle was built on the southernmost point of the sand island, the church on the northern side, and the town hall in the middle.
The streets are grouped around it with the houses that characterize the city and the important trades.
It is worth visiting and viewing the castle separately.
You can find out more details in the castle and local history museum or one of the flyers. You can find these in the bookstore – Hoffmann, in Burgstrasse or in one of the two information boxes at the town hall or the castle tower.