Gifhorn Castle is a castle in Gifhorn, Germany, built between 1525 and 1581 in the Weser Renaissance style. The castle was fortified until 1790 with moats, ramparts and bastions and was never captured. In the 16th century it was the Residenz of the Duchy of Gifhorn under Duke Francis of Brunswick-Lüneburg for just 10 years.
Castle courtyard. From left: the Kommandantenhaus with its staircase tower (Treppenturm), castle chapel (Schlosskapelle) and the Ablagerhaus
The gatehouse, the first castle building to be completed (in 1526)
Duke Francis in the castle chapel
Francis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Francis of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1508–1549) was the youngest son of Henry the Middle. Following a thirty-year joint reign of Brunswick-Lüneburg with his brother Ernest the Confessor, he ruled the newly founded Duchy of Gifhorn from Gifhorn Castle for over 10 years from 1539 until his death in 1549. He was given the duchy as an inheritance settlement by his brother Ernest.
Duke Francis of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Life-size statue of the Protestant duke on entering the chapel at Gifhorn Castle
Statue of wife Clara in the castle chapel at Gifhorn