A RETURN TO GLORY

Andreas Hanitsch and Thani Huynh welcome us to their renovated castle in Germany, rich in history and design

- ANA FERNANDEZ DE CORDOBA CENDRA & CRISTINA LORA ALARCON

Düneck Castle, near Hamburg, can truly be described as a house with a history - one that spans the Atlantic and features fabulous wealth, a tragic love affair and even a ghost.

Built in 1871 by renowned German architect Detlef Lienau, the neo-Gothic residence has since passed through many hands. "The walls of this magical place have seen everything," says current owner Andreas Hanitsch.

However, by the time Andreas, 61, and his wife, Thani Huynh, 44, discovered it three years ago, the only residents were local wildlife.

Scores of deer and rabbits roamed the grounds, while the home had been taken over by "a very fat black cat and a huge owl who'd nested in the façade."

Nevertheless, the ambience proved irresistible to the couple, both entrepreneurs and patrons of the arts. Since acquiring Düneck, they have embraced its eclectic spirit, restoring it to its former glory - using original plans archived at New York City's Columbia University, under the guidance of Hamburg-based Giorgio Gullotta Architects - while also giving the interior a stunning contemporary makeover.

Here, the couple reveal their shared passions as they take Hello! on an exclusive tour of their spectacular home.

Thani, what can you tell us about the architecture of the castle?