The castle Jever in Jever in Lower Saxony is founded on a castle of the East Frisian chiefs and was the seat of rule Jever. It is the city's most important secular structure.
On the site of today's castle stood since the Middle Ages, a fortified castle, which formed the core of the later city. The old fortress was completely destroyed in 1427 as a result of disputes between the chief families. From 1428 a new castle was built under Hajo Harlda and expanded in the following years by Tanno Düren and Edo Wiemken. The center was a mighty donjon, which was integrated from the 16th century in a surrounded by moats and ramparts four-wing palace complex. From 1560 to 1564, the then regent Maria von Jever made various alterations in the style of the Renaissance. Among other things, she had the carved coffered ceiling moved into the audience hall.
In 1667, the rule Jever and the castle came into the possession of the Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst. The Anhalt landlords, whose own principality in today's Saxony-Anhalt was many days' journey away from Jever, rarely stayed in the castle and therefore made little major changes. Only under Prince Johann August was the mighty central tower, which completely dominates the small castle courtyard, crowned from 1731 to 1736 with its baroque bonnet. The 67-meter-high tower is today the landmark of the city and, together with the castle, is also a trademark of the Jever Pilsener.
After the Zerbst division in 1793 until her death in 1796 was Johann August's granddaughter, Tsarina Catherine the Great owner of the castle. Due to her obligations in Russia she did not live in the castle during this time. In 1818 Jever fell to the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. The castle was used by the Oldenburg dukes as a secondary residence and the old defenses were broken off in this context. A part of the former farm buildings was demolished and the immediate area of the castle island transformed into a landscaped garden.
Source: Wikipedia