Schloss Ritzebüttel

[1] The castle, part of which dates back to the 14th century, is one of the oldest preserved secular buildings of the North German Brick Gothic style in the region and is now open to visitors.

[2] As it was easy to control the Lower Elbe from Ritzebüttel and the fortress also included large pieces of land, the place was a valuable possession for Hamburg.

The bailiffs were mostly senators of Hamburg including, among others, the writer and poet Barthold Heinrich Brockes as well as the advocate Amandus Augustus Abendroth.

Despite that, the actual office in Ritzebüttel was not favoured, as it meant living in the countryside a three days trip away from the luxurious commodities of Hamburg to carry out their official duties.

This portal building was dismantled in the 18th century and replaced by the preserved five axis baroque style front extension seen today.

Additionally, the ceremonial halls on the second and third floors remain intact, as well as the living quarters of the administrative officials, which include antique furnishings from around 1900.

The last structural modifications were made in 1980, when the original sandstone honor plaques inside the memorial were replaced with metal ones, and an iron grille was installed.