Bergedorf Castle

Bergedorf Castle is the only medieval castle still standing within the city limits of Hamburg, and it occupies a surprisingly bucolic setting on the Dove Elbe river in the south-eastern Bergedorf district. Originally built in the 13th century as a moated water castle by the Lords of Berge, it later passed to the twin-city administration of Hamburg and Lübeck, who used it as the residence of their shared bailiff. The castle took its present Renaissance form in the 16th century, acquiring its steep gabled roof, the round tower, and the stone bridge crossing the still-water-filled moat. The interior houses the Museum für Bergedorf und die Vierlande, a regional museum covering the agricultural history and traditional costumes of the Vierlande farming region, as well as the history of Hamburg's south-eastern suburbs. The small castle park is ideal for a picnic, and the adjacent Bergedorf town centre offers shops, cafes, and the St. Petri und Pauli church. The castle is easily reached by S-Bahn line S21 from Hamburg Hauptbahnhof to Bergedorf station in about 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute walk. It pairs well with a stroll through the nearby Vierlande farmlands or a boat trip on the Dove Elbe.