Cumberland Castle

The King of Hanover, George V (1819–1878), became a landless refugee due to these events, relying on the hospitality of his relatives and friendly princes.

He and his son, the crown prince, initially went to Vienna to his wartime ally, Emperor Franz Joseph I.

In 1882, George V's son, Ernest Augustus (1845–1923), Crown Prince of Hanover, and 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, decided to build his own castle.

He commissioned the Hanoverian architect Ferdinand Schorbach to design a castle in gothic revival style.

[2] Construction started on 15 June 1882, and by 15 September 1886, the Guelph family moved into the extensive and lavishly furnished castle complex.

[3] Great emphasis was placed on artistic decoration, and a series of splendidly appointed rooms were created.

The ducal family was very engaged in the city's cultural and social affairs and significantly supported the construction of the Protestant church in Gmunden (1871–75).

They were extremely generous patrons of the city, providing notable donations for canal and road construction, the Esplanade, the soup kitchen for the needy, and financial support for students and retired soldiers.

[1] The associated estate including forests and hunting areas near Grünau im Almtal, the Cumberland Wildlife Park, with the hunting lodge Hubertihaus, are still owned by a Liechtenstein based family foundation of the House of Hanover, the Duke of Cumberland Foundation.

Modifications were made to meet the needs of residents and staff, such as installing an elevator and sealing the numerous chimneys.