Introduction
Located 12 km south of Braunschweig, Wolfenbüttel is a relaxed historical town filled with half-timbered houses. It is one of the best preserved hsitorical towns in the northern half of Germany along with nearby Goslar and Quedlinburg. With origins dating back to the 10th century and first officially documented in 1118, this picturesque town combines rich history, stunning architecture and a vibrant cultural scene. For some 400 years until 1754, Wolfenbüttel served as the residence of the Dukes of Braunschweig and Lüneburg, with the impressive baroque Schloss Wolfenbüttel standing as testament to this period. The town is particularly renowned for the Herzog August Bibliothek (Duke August Library), founded in 1572 and housing over 900,000 books including rare manuscripts. With approximately 53,000 inhabitants, Wolfenbüttel retains its historical character through several hundred well-preserved half-timbered buildings, many dating back centuries, as the town was largely undamaged during the war.
Interesting Facts about Wolfenbüttel
- Wolfenbüttel boasts Germany's largest concentration of timber-framed buildings, with approximately 1,000 well-preserved examples spanning six centuries.
- The town's Herzog August Library houses the 12th-century Gospels of Henry the Lion, once the world's most expensive book purchased for £8.14 million in 1983.
- Jägermeister herbal liqueur has been produced in Wolfenbüttel since 1934 using a secret recipe of 56 herbs and spices.
- For over three centuries, Wolfenbüttel served as the principal residence of the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, shaping its architectural legacy.
- The Baroque Wolfenbüttel Palace contains Germany's only preserved high Baroque state apartments open to the public.
- Enlightenment philosopher Gotthold Ephraim Lessing wrote his seminal play "Nathan the Wise" while working as the ducal librarian in Wolfenbüttel.
- Remarkably spared from Second World War destruction, the town retains nearly 600 original Renaissance and Baroque buildings in its historic centre.
- Wolfenbüttel became Germany's first planned Renaissance town under Duke Julius in the 16th century, featuring innovative grid-pattern urban design.
- Traditional Wednesday and Saturday markets still fill the main square with local game meats, artisanal cheeses and regional produce as they have since 1570.
- The town's Klein Venedig ("Little Venice") district features 18th-century canalside houses reminiscent of Venetian architecture along the Oker River.
History
Wolfenbüttel, a charming town in Lower Saxony, Germany, boasts a rich history dating back to the tenth century. First mentioned in 1118 as Wulferisbuttle, the settlement began around a small islet in the Oker river, where Saxon count Widekind of Wolfenbüttel erected a water castle on an important trade route. Though destroyed multiple times throughout the medieval period, the fortress was rebuilt by Duke Henry I of Brunswick in 1283, establishing the foundation for what would become the permanent residence of the Brunswick Princes of Wolfenbüttel by 1432.
The town truly flourished during the Renaissance period, becoming the first planned Renaissance town and serving as the residence of the Royal House of Hanover for more than three centuries. Under Duke Julius of Brunswick-Lüneburg, Wolfenbüttel was largely rebuilt in Renaissance style, complete with several gracht waterways. The duke granted citizens market rights in 1570 and founded the Ducal Library (Herzogliche Bibliothek) two years later. Over two centuries, especially under Duke Julius' successors, Wolfenbüttel grew to be a centre of arts and science, hosting notable figures such as composer Michael Praetorius and the philosopher Gottfried Leibniz.
Today, visitors can explore Wolfenbüttel's splendidly preserved Old Town, an enchanting maze of narrow streets and more than 600 half-timbered houses that transport travellers back in time. The magnificent Wolfenbüttel Schloss (Castle), constructed in the 16th century as the residence of the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, stands as an architectural masterpiece and symbol of the town's historical significance. The world-famous Herzog August Library, the Lessinghaus (home to Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, who wrote his plays "Nathan the Wise" and "Emilia Galotti" here), and the first Protestant church further enhance the town's cultural heritage.
Main Attractions
Old Town
The Old Town of Wolfenbüttel stands as a testament to the town's remarkable preservation through both World Wars, having escaped major damage. This historical district features approximately 600 lovingly restored timber-framed houses from various stylistic periods, creating a harmonious cityscape where late Gothic buildings stand alongside more modern structures. Walking through the pedestrianised areas, visitors can appreciate the meticulous restoration work that has maintained the town's historical character. The oldest timber-framed house, located near the castle, dates back to around 1535 according to recent examinations.
City Market Square
The City Market Square (Stadtmarkt) represents one of Wolfenbüttel's most picturesque areas. This vibrant central plaza combines timber-framed houses from the Renaissance and Baroque periods with historic 19th-century buildings, creating a harmonious architectural ensemble despite representing different epochs. The square hosts a regular weekly market every Wednesday and Saturday, where visitors can experience local culture and products in a historic setting. The square's charm is enhanced by the ducks that often waddle across or relax in its centre—a delightful feature that adds character to Wolfenbüttel's market.
Klein Venedig (Little Venice)
Klein Venedig, or "Little Venice," is a romantic spot in Wolfenbüttel that offers visitors a glimpse of the town's historical canal system. In the late 16th century, Dutch architects constructed a system of canals to drain the swampy ground, creating this charming district. Today, this scenic waterside ensemble along the River Oker features quaint houses reflected in calm waters. The bridge with its abundant flower decorations serves as a popular photo spot, particularly beautiful during the summer months.
Schloss Wolfenbüttel (Wolfenbüttel Castle)
Schloss Wolfenbüttel has a rich history dating back to 1074 when it was first recorded as a fort on the river Oker. The castle was built by Widekind of Wolfenbüttel and has undergone numerous transformations throughout its history. The current layout of the castle, its moat, and the lower levels and dungeon of the keep all date from 1283, when Henry I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen rebuilt the structure. This baroque castle served as the residence of the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Today, part of the building functions as a high school, while another section houses baroque state apartments that are open to the public as a museum.
Kleines Schloss (Little Castle)
The Kleines Schloss, situated next to the main Schloss Wolfenbüttel on what is now the Schlossplatz, is a Baroque building with a fascinating history. First built in 1643, it has undergone numerous extensions, demolitions, and reconstructions. In the 17th century, it primarily served as the residence of the hereditary princes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. From 1687 to 1712, it housed the Rudolph-Antoniana Ritterakademie for noble families. The small ballroom of the Kleines Schloss, rebuilt in the Empire Style, hosted significant events including royal celebrations. Today, the building maintains its historical façade while serving as a private residence.
Marienkirche (Principal Church "Beatae Mariae Virginis")
The Marienkirche holds the distinction of being the first large-scale Protestant church in the world. Construction began in 1608 under master builder Paul Francke at Duke Heinrich Julius’s behest. The church combines elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles in a magnificent Mannerist structure suitable for sermons and ducal burials alike. Inside are highlights such as an ornate carved wooden altar by Bernhard Ditterich and an organ with 53 registers. It also houses graves of notable figures like composer Michael Praetorius.
St. Trinitatis (Trinity Church)
The Trinity Church was commissioned by Duke August Wilhelm after fire damage in 1716 and designed by Hermann Korb on a limited budget. Its interior features two galleries accommodating over 1,000 worshippers supported by cleverly constructed wooden columns disguised as stonework. Originally painted vibrantly in Baroque style (though now faded), this church remains an impressive architectural achievement.
Jägermeister Distillery
Wolfenbüttel is home to Jägermeister’s distillery where visitors can book tours to learn about its production process involving 56 herbs and enjoy tastings at its conclusion. A Jägermeister shop within Tourist Information offers an opportunity to purchase this iconic herbal liqueur directly from its birthplace.
Top Museums
Schloss Museum Wolfenbüttel
The magnificent Schloss Museum, housed within the historic Wolfenbüttel Castle, stands as a testament to the town's illustrious royal heritage. As the second-largest castle in the Lower Saxony region, this architectural marvel features four impressive wings arranged around a central courtyard, creating a harmonious blend of grandeur and elegance. The museum invites visitors to step back in time as they explore 14 meticulously preserved state apartments and reception rooms, each maintaining their original 18th-century splendour with remarkable attention to detail.
The castle's baroque façade, masterfully designed by the renowned architect Hermann Korb, showcases the artistic sensibilities of the era with its balanced proportions and ornate decorative elements. Within these historic walls, the museum's thoughtfully curated exhibits illuminate Wolfenbüttel's significant political and cultural role during the baroque period, when the town served as a centre of power and intellectual exchange. Visitors can admire period furniture, intricate tapestries, fine porcelain, and royal portraits that collectively narrate the story of the ducal court and its influence on European affairs.
Lessinghaus
The Lessinghaus stands as a literary sanctuary dedicated to preserving the legacy of Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, one of Germany's most influential Enlightenment thinkers and writers. This elegant late baroque building, reminiscent of a French park château with its symmetrical design and refined architectural details, holds profound historical significance as it served as Lessing's residence from 1777 until his death in 1781.
Within these walls, Lessing penned his groundbreaking drama "Nathan the Wise," a powerful plea for religious tolerance that continues to resonate with modern audiences. The museum offers an intimate glimpse into the writer's daily life and creative process through a thoughtful arrangement of personal artefacts, original manuscripts, first editions, and period furnishings. Visitors can explore Lessing's study, where he developed his revolutionary ideas on drama theory and religious philosophy, and gain deeper insights into how his progressive thinking helped shape the intellectual landscape of 18th-century Europe. The Lessinghaus not only honours a literary giant but also celebrates the enduring power of ideas to transcend time and transform society.
Herzog August Bibliothek
The Herzog August Library, though temporarily closed for renovations, ranks among the world's most prestigious research libraries and cultural institutions. Founded in the 17th century by Duke August of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, this remarkable library houses an unparalleled collection of medieval and early modern European works that have drawn scholars from across the globe for centuries.
The library's vast holdings include over 135,000 rare books, illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, and ancient globes, representing a treasure trove of human knowledge and artistic achievement. Among its most celebrated possessions is the Gospels of Henry the Lion, an extraordinary illuminated manuscript dating from 1188 that exemplifies the pinnacle of Romanesque book art. The library building itself, with its distinctive rotunda design, reflects the innovative vision of its founders who sought to create a temple of knowledge accessible to scholars and thinkers. Throughout its history, the Herzog August Library has hosted luminaries such as Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Lessing himself, who served as its librarian, cementing Wolfenbüttel's reputation as an intellectual centre of European significance.
Bürger Museum
The Bürger Museum, ingeniously housed in a repurposed 19th-century riding hall, offers a compelling journey through 500 years of Wolfenbüttel's urban development and civic life. The museum's spacious interior, with its distinctive architectural elements preserved from its original function, provides an atmospheric backdrop for exploring the town's evolution from a ducal residence to a modern community.
The permanent exhibition is thoughtfully organised around key themes that highlight the unique aspects of Wolfenbüttel's history, including its growth as a residential city, the impact of industrialisation on local trades and crafts, and the changing patterns of civic life throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Through carefully selected artefacts, historical photographs, interactive displays, and personal accounts, visitors gain insights into how ordinary citizens experienced major historical events and social transformations. The museum pays particular attention to the town's distinctive brewing tradition, its publishing history, and the development of local governance structures, offering a nuanced understanding of how broader historical currents shaped this particular community. Special exhibitions regularly complement the permanent collection, exploring specific aspects of local history in greater depth and connecting Wolfenbüttel's story to wider regional and national narratives.
AHA-ERLEBNISmuseum
The AHA-ERLEBNISmuseum represents a fresh, innovative approach to museum education, specifically designed to engage children and young people through interactive learning experiences. Unlike traditional museums that emphasise passive observation, this dynamic space encourages active participation, hands-on experimentation, and playful discovery as pathways to understanding complex concepts.
The museum features a variety of thematic zones where young visitors can explore scientific principles, historical scenarios, and creative processes through carefully designed exhibits that stimulate multiple senses and learning styles. Children might conduct simple physics experiments, build structures in engineering workshops, or role-play historical situations in immersive environments. The museum's philosophy embraces the idea that meaningful learning occurs through direct experience and personal engagement, making abstract concepts tangible and accessible. Regular workshops, special events, and changing exhibitions ensure that there's always something new to discover, making the AHA-ERLEBNISmuseum a favourite destination for families, school groups, and anyone who believes that learning should be an adventure rather than a chore. The museum's approach has proven particularly effective in kindling scientific curiosity and critical thinking skills in young minds.
Gärtnermuseum
The Gärtnermuseum (Gardener's Museum) offers a fascinating exploration of over five centuries of vegetable cultivation and horticultural traditions in Wolfenbüttel. Housed in a lovingly restored historic farmhouse that itself represents an important piece of agricultural heritage, the museum creates an authentic setting for understanding the region's deep connection to the land and its bounty.
Through its minimalist yet effective scenography, the museum guides visitors through the evolution of gardening practices in the region, from the establishment of ducal garden lands that supplied the court with fresh produce to the emergence of gardening dynasties that passed specialised knowledge through generations. Displays include antique gardening tools, seed catalogues, botanical illustrations, and reconstructions of traditional growing techniques. The museum pays particular attention to Wolfenbüttel's unique contribution to European vegetable cultivation, including specific varieties developed in the region and innovative growing methods that influenced horticultural practices beyond local boundaries. Seasonal demonstrations in the museum's kitchen garden complement the indoor exhibits, allowing visitors to witness historical gardening techniques in practice and understand how closely food production was tied to local climate, soil conditions, and cultural preferences throughout different historical periods.
Heimatstube Ahlum
The Heimatstube Ahlum, nestled in a century-old machine hall that once served the local agricultural community, offers a charmingly authentic glimpse into rural life and traditional craftsmanship in this historic district of Wolfenbüttel. The museum's unassuming exterior belies the rich tapestry of local history preserved within its walls, where visitors encounter a surprising array of meticulously arranged exhibits that collectively tell the story of everyday life in Ahlum across generations.
The heart of the museum lies in its lovingly recreated workshops that showcase traditional trades that once formed the backbone of the local economy. Visitors can explore a fully equipped traditional bakery with its massive stone oven, a carpenter's workshop filled with hand tools that required skill rather than electricity, and a shoemaker's shop where every pair of footwear represented hours of painstaking craftsmanship. The agricultural heritage of the region is honoured through displays of farming implements that trace the evolution from hand-powered to early mechanised equipment, illustrating how technological changes transformed rural work patterns and community structures. Household items, clothing, photographs, and personal documents provide intimate insights into family life, local customs, and community celebrations throughout the changing seasons. The museum is largely maintained through the dedicated efforts of local volunteers who often share personal connections to the exhibits, adding layers of oral history and community memory to the visitor experience.
Local Cuisine
Wolfenbüttel offers a delightful culinary scene where tradition meets innovation. The town is famously home to Jägermeister, the iconic herbal liqueur invented by Curt Mast in 1934, which has transformed from an "old man's drink" to a trendy beverage enjoyed worldwide. Visitors can experience this local treasure through guided tours of the distillery, where the secret recipe of 56 herbs is crafted and matured in oak barrels. Beyond its liquid heritage, Wolfenbüttel boasts charming restaurants serving regional specialities with a focus on fresh, local produce. Establishments like Zimmerhof 13 serve delicious regional dishes in a rustic yet elegant setting overlooking the Oker river, while Vinum Italicum offers Mediterranean flavours with local twists such as Pasta a' Muricà. For those seeking a complete cultural and culinary experience, the "Wolfenbüttel Appetizer" tour combines sightseeing with a two-course meal accompanied by a Jägermeister digestif. The town's gastronomic landscape ranges from traditional German cuisine to international offerings, with many restaurants committed to sustainability and seasonal ingredients, reflecting the rich culinary heritage of Lower Saxony.
Shopping
Wolfenbüttel offers a relaxed shopping experience centred around the FORUM Wolfenbüttel shopping centre, which houses a variety of shops selling fashion, electronics and groceries. The centre is open daily from 9:00 to 20:00, including Saturdays, and provides free parking for visitors. Beyond the shopping centre, the town's charming historic centre, with its 600+ half-timbered houses, creates an atmospheric backdrop for shopping. The area has a strong culinary tradition, with local specialities including hearty sausages that can be sampled alongside regional produce. Wolfenbüttel is also famous as the birthplace of Jägermeister herb liqueur, which makes for a popular souvenir.
Nature in and around Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel and its surrounding areas offer a variety of natural attractions for outdoor enthusiasts. The Oker River provides scenic walking routes along its banks, with the Okerweg stretching for about 20 kilometres and offering picturesque views of the countryside. Nature lovers can explore the Elm-Lappwald Nature Reserve, which features diverse landscapes from dense forests to open fields, particularly beautiful during spring when wildflowers bloom. The nearby Harz Mountains present opportunities for hiking and enjoying majestic mountain scenery. Within Wolfenbüttel itself, visitors can enjoy the tranquil Amtsgarten, a garden paradise with a variety of plants and flowers. The Wendessen Manor Park offers a peaceful retreat with historic buildings and landscaped gardens. For those interested in local flora and fauna, the Salzdahlum Pond provides a secluded picnic area where one can observe wildlife and enjoy the shade of ancient trees.
Seeliger Park
Seeliger Park was once owned by banker Gustav Seeliger before being opened to the public in 1976. Designed in an English garden style, it features exotic ornamental trees such as black walnut and gingko planted during its creation. Located near Schloss Wolfenbüttel and just steps from the pedestrian zone, this tranquil park also offers recreational activities like disc golf on its free-to-use course.
Okeraue (Oker Meadows)
The Oker meadows surrounding Wolfenbüttel blend natural beauty with historical significance. Conservation areas like "Northern Okeraue" feature wet grasslands and reeds along partially natural river courses. Southward lies another conservation area with oxbow lakes and remnants of floodplain forests—perfect for nature walks or quiet reflection amidst serene landscapes.
Getting There & Around
Wolfenbüttel is easily accessible by various transport options. If travelling by car, you can reach the town via the A2 motorway (Hanover-Berlin) by taking the Braunschweig-Nord exit and following the A391, A39 and A36 towards Bad Harzburg, then exiting at Wolfenbüttel-Nord. From the south, take the A7 motorway, exit at Salzgitter, and follow signs for Wolfenbüttel. By train, take an IC or ICE service to Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof, then catch a regional train to Wolfenbüttel (running every 30 minutes with a journey time of 10 minutes). Alternatively, the 420 bus departs from Braunschweig station every 15-20 minutes, taking about 20 minutes to reach Wolfenbüttel's Kornmarkt. A taxi from Braunschweig to Wolfenbüttel costs around 25 euros. Once in Wolfenbüttel, the compact town centre is easily navigable on foot, with market days on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For exploring the wider region, including the beautiful Elm-Lappwald Nature Park, the Verkehrsverbund Region Braunschweig (VRB) offers various ticket options, including day tickets and monthly passes. The VRB app provides current timetable information, mobile tickets and network maps for convenient travel by bus and rail throughout the region.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Wolfenbüttel is during late spring and early summer, typically from May to July. During this period, the weather is pleasantly mild, making it ideal for exploring the town's charming streets and historical sites. The abundance of blooming flowers in the town's corners and squares adds to the picturesque atmosphere, showcasing Wolfenbüttel's long-standing gardening tradition. This time of year also coincides with various cultural events, including the Wolfenbüttel Kultursommer, which offers a diverse array of concerts, theatre performances, and exhibitions. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities, such as strolling through the Old Town or taking a leisurely walk in the nearby Elm Forest, whilst experiencing the town's rich history and vibrant culture in comfortable conditions.
