Fürstliches Residenzschloss Detmold

Description

In the heart of Detmold’s historic centre stands the Fürstliche Residenzschloss Detmold, which for centuries was the residence and representational seat of the Counts and Princes zur Lippe and is still inhabited today by the head of the family. Its construction goes back to a medieval castle first mentioned in documents in 1366; earlier traces point to an episcopal estate in the 8th or 9th century.

The development into a fortified moated castle began with the takeover of power by the Edelherren zur Lippe around 1200 and the founding of the town in 1263. Walls of the castle tower date from this early period, and further parts of the south and west wings were built in the 14th century. After destructions during the Soest Feud in 1447, the complex was expanded into a strong fortress with ramparts and, in the mid-15th century, elevated to a permanent residence. In the 16th century it was converted into a four-winged Renaissance complex modelled on regional castles; in the 17th and early 18th centuries additions followed, such as the kitchen portal (around 1620), the extension of the rear wing (1673) and a Baroque interior decoration with stucco and wall tapestries that still defines the outward appearance.

Architecturally the castle displays the features of the Weser Renaissance: a four-wing layout with stair towers at the courtyard corners, an asymmetrical main façade, high bastions and broad moats. The gate wing has a projecting stone entrance with pilasters and a coat-of-arms frieze dated 1557; at the courtyard corners are stair towers bearing the date inscriptions 1550 and 1551 and a northern tower from 1673.

The interior rooms preserve rich collections and historic furnishings. The Red Salon features an early 18th-century ceiling painting with antique motifs; the Ahnensaal documents dynastic representation in portraits and wall panelling. The Elisabethsaal and the Empire Room display portraits and original furniture, including gifts from the circles of European courts as well as Gobelins after Rubens designs (1700–1709). The Hunting Room and the King’s Room house weapons, trophies and large-scale tapestries with scenes from the campaigns of Alexander the Great, produced in the 17th century and restored in the 20th century. The Flag Room contains the final tapestry of the series, the oldest Lippe flag (1651) and other representative fittings. The castle library contains a historic organ from the USA with an automatic playing mechanism; parts of the pipework are accommodated on different storeys and the instrument is being restored.

The castle, together with its moat and the castle square, shapes a quarter of the old town. The original fortifications and the southern and western moats are largely preserved; the moat is fed by an artificial canal. The present castle square was created in the late 18th century on the site of the former Meierei, flanked by representative wing buildings for court and state administration; in the 19th century the complex was transformed into an English park and equipped with fountains and numerous monuments, including memorials to war victims, a regents’ monument and a bust of Johannes Brahms.