Bündheim Castle

Bündheim was first mentioned in a document in 1251. In 1573, the administrative office of Duke Julius of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel was moved from Harzburg to Bündheim, and an official residence was built.

In the same year, Duke Julius established a brass foundry based on an older smelting operation and used furnace calamine (zinc ore), first made usable by the ducal councilor Erasmus Ebner, as an additive to the processed Mansfeld copper.

The original official residence fell victim to Tilly's soldiers in 1626 during the Thirty Years' War. The official residence rebuilt thereafter proved to be a flawed design. It was therefore demolished in 1685 and replaced by the current castle. The castle's Knights' Hall is now used for cultural events and representative receptions.

Immediately to the west side of the castle is the former state-owned thoroughbred stud farm Harzburg, whose origins date back to the 15th century. Memorial stones have been erected in the adjacent castle park for the stud farm's most famous horses, including the renowned Luciano.