Marienberg Fortress

Marienberg Fortress
Festung Marienberg
Near Würzburg, Germany
Marienberg and the Old Bridge
Fortress Marienberg and the Old Bridge
Marienberg Fortress is located in Bavaria
Marienberg Fortress
Marienberg Fortress
Marienberg Fortress is located in Germany
Marienberg Fortress
Marienberg Fortress
Coordinates49°47′23″N 9°55′17″E / 49.789722°N 9.921389°E / 49.789722; 9.921389
TypeFortress
Site information
OwnerBavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes
Open to
the public
Yes
Site history
Builtmostly 13th to 18th century
Built byBishops of Würzburg
Scherenbergtor and medieval wall with the Kiliansturm in the background

Marienberg Fortress (German: Festung Marienberg) is a prominent landmark on the left bank of the Main river in Würzburg, in the Franconia region of Bavaria, Germany. It is a symbol of Würzburg and served as a home of the local prince-bishops for nearly five centuries. It has been a fort since ancient times, although most of the current structures were built in Renaissance and Baroque styles between the 16th and 18th centuries. After Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden conquered the area in 1631 during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was reconstructed as a Baroque residence. After it ceased to serve as residence of the Bishops of Würzburg, the fortress saw repeated action in the wars of the late 18th and 19th centuries. It was severely damaged by British bombs in March 1945 and only fully rebuilt in 1990. Today, it houses two museums.