The closure of Marienburg Castle has been temporarily lifted for the filming of “Maxton Hall” Season 2. However, this decision has sparked criticism.

With its story about the romance between Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and James Beaufort (Damian Hardung), “Maxton Hall” has stormed the Amazon charts. Fans who have already devoured the first six episodes and are eagerly awaiting more can rest assured: the second season of “Maxton Hall” is already in the works.

According to the Hannoversche Allgemeine, an exception has allowed filming to begin at Marienburg Castle on June 4, 2024. Since production has commenced swiftly, we might see the new episodes on Prime Video as early as next year. This is great news for fans, but the special exemption for Amazon’s filming has drawn criticism and bewilderment from some involved.

Marienburg Castle Closed – Exception for “Maxton Hall”
According to the Hannoversche Allgemeine and the tourist information office of the city of Hanover, parts of the castle, especially the interiors, are currently off-limits. This is due to recently discovered structural damage caused by house fungus, which requires renovation (via NDR). Only the courtyard, the attached shop, and the café are currently accessible to visitors.

In the meantime, here’s a video on series to watch while waiting for new episodes of “Maxton Hall”:

These are not good news, as much of “Maxton Hall” takes place in the very school primarily filmed in the rooms of Marienburg Castle. Fans were surely wondering if a solution would be found soon or if filming would be postponed indefinitely. Now, there is a clear answer.

Recently, the Hannoversche Allgemeine announced relief: Filming for “Maxton Hall” Season 2 can take place in June 2024! An expert report confirms that the structural integrity is not compromised, and the interiors can be temporarily used for filming.

For all regular visitors, however, Marienburg Castle remains closed. After the temporary opening, the interiors and parts of the exterior will need extensive renovation. Nevertheless, the Marienburg Castle Foundation plans to reopen parts of the castle to the public later this year.

Former Castle Guide Criticizes Exception for Amazon
This decision has been heavily criticized by former castle guide Carmen Holst-Hillmer, who led tours through the historic building for eight years, as she explained to NDR:

“Everything that has been done now to enable this filming, we could have done too, thus allowing public access.”

Especially in light of previous statements by Falko Mohrs, Lower Saxony’s Minister of Science and Culture, many involved are baffled by the handling of the situation:

“On what basis can the minister continuously claim that all areas of the castle pose a danger to life and limb: that the structural integrity of the entire castle is not assured – he has repeatedly said this on camera. And now, up to 300 crew members are working daily in the castle, being used by UFA and Amazon Prime – and afterwards, everything is supposedly at risk of collapse again?”

The former castle guide is calling for more transparency regarding the events at Marienburg Castle and especially for a reopening to the public soon:

“What’s important is that it’s available to the public again. […] We see through ‘Maxton Hall’ that even more people have been drawn to the castle. We could have given these visitors beautiful times with the tenant we had.”

According to a statement (via NDR) from the Lower Saxony Minister of Culture, a different use of the rooms in Marienburg Castle, such as by large groups of visitors, is currently not possible according to the expert report. For now, the doors remain closed to “Maxton Hall” fans. However, thanks to the early start of filming, we can probably enjoy new episodes of the Amazon series without major delays.