Schloss Marienburg

Did you know that the mistress of Marienburg Castle once owned 345 cake tins? In honour of King George V's wife with a sweet tooth, today the castle café "Maries" serves freshly baked cakes and the "Marie" and "Georg" cakes in the former stables. Northern Germany's only royal palace, situated a good 15 kilometres west of Hildesheim in the most beautiful countryside, is also a worthwhile destination for other excursions. The estate with its neo-Gothic façades, towers and roofs was built from 1858 onwards as the summer residence of the Guelphs (Europe's oldest noble family); King Georg gave it to his Marie as a birthday present. A stroll through the chambers will give you a taste of 19th-century life; with its almost completely preserved furnishings, Marienburg is still a fairytale appearance today. From the main tower you can also enjoy great views over the countryside, and on warm summer nights the castle walls are magnificently illuminated - the inner courtyard then attracts atmospheric open-air events.