This route takes you through a scenic landscape with views of 5 "castles" in the district of Göttingen and the district of Northeim.
Plesse is one of the most important hill castles in southern Lower Saxony. Numerous legends about Plesse Castle and its inhabitants connect to the German Fairy Tale Route. Goethe visited the castle in 1801 and wrote one of his poems here. These melancholic lines are fondly remembered under the Goethe lime tree named after him, with a view over the Leine Valley. The entire castle complex with outer wall, fortified forecourt, castle courtyard, watchtower, remains of the chapel, and the manor house is dominated in the middle by the massive bergfried, whose masonry at the foundation level measures almost 4.50 meters. From the bergfried, visitors are treated to a wonderful view of the Leine Valley and over the heights of the Solling to the west, and even into the Harz mountains to the east.
Hardenberg Castle was a popular destination for Göttingen students until the 20th century. The von Hardenberg family still owns the castle ruin and operates a grain distillery in the village, which they founded in 1700. According to their own information, Hardenberg-Wilthen AG is the second largest spirits manufacturer in Germany. Under the name Count’s Estate Hardenberg, hospitality and gastronomy have been added, as well as hosting numerous events such as horse tournaments or a ice rink event in winter. Below the castle ruin, on the former manor farm, there are now hotel operations, a shop, and a bar for distilled spirits from the grain distillery and the castle park.
Hardeg Castle is a former castle in the Lower Saxon small town of Hardegsen (district of Northeim). It was built in the 12th century. The entire castle area was purchased by the town of Hardegsen in 1972. The town of Hardegsen took over the lease. The rooms of the manor house can today not only be visited but also rented for celebrations and events. The income finances the preservation of Hardeg Castle. The knights’ hall is used as a registry office in spring and summer.
Bramburg (original height of the hilltop 465 m) is a forest area above Lödingsen and Adelebsen. In the middle of the forest and surrounded by fields, basalt, a volcanic rock, has been extracted there since 1840.
The original Adelebsen Castle, later converted into a palace, is a well-preserved medieval complex on a sandstone rock in Adelebsen. It was the seat of the baronial family of the von Adelebsen for about 800 years. Today, the castle complex belongs to the Burg Adelebsen Foundation.
