Glücksburg Travel Tip:
Glücksburg Castle
Glücksburg Castle
Glücksburg Castle, erected between 1582 and 1587 under Duke Johann the Younger (1545 – 1622), is Germany’s largest water
castle and one of the most significant family houses in Northern Europe. The residence of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein and, at times, the home of the Danish Kings (both families descended from the House of Oldenburg) has been shaped by the events of European history. The builder, Nikolaus Karies, erected the castle on the site of a former Cistercian monastery (Rudekloster), which itself had medieval religious origins. Granite from the previous construction was re-used in the present foundations and many of the old bricks also found further use in today’s striking white-plastered building.
As an important part of the cultural heritage of the area, Glücksburg Castle was transformed in 1923 into a Foundation by the ducal house and opened to the public as a museum. The important collection of Dutch tapestries and Flemish leather wall-covering is a particular attraction of the castle. The stucco ceilings in the Red Hall and the adjacent rooms are among the earliest in Schleswig-Holstein. The ceiling frescoes in the chapel date back to its construction. The carved wooden altar goes back to the time of the Thirty-Years’-War (1618-1648), and the former seigniorial box (the family pew) is dated 1717. Numerous portraits from the 16th century to the present time document the sometimes turbulent lives of the Oldenburg and Glücksburg families and bear witness to the vicissitudes of German and Danish history. Momentos from the uprising of 1848 in Schleswig-Holstein and of the German-Danish War in 1864 contribute to an appreciation of the varied lifestyles of the members of the ducal family. Selected pieces of furniture from Rococo to Biedermeier, exquisite porcelain and silver complete the collection.
Hours: May 1 - Sept. 30: daily 10am - 6pm. October: daily 10am - 6pm except Mondays. November -April 30: Saturday and Sunday 11am - 4pm.
Admission: Adults 5 €, Concessions 3.50 €.
[ Source: http://www.schloss-gluecksburg.de/home-en.html ]
Related: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gl%C3%BCcksburg_Castle
Address: Große Straße, 24960 Glücksburg
Tags: Glücksburg, Water Castle, Museum
Location of Glücksburg Castle
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Glücksburg is a wonderful small town in Schleswig-Holstein, north of Germany. It is situated on the south side of the Flensburg Fjord, an inlet of the Baltic Sea. The town showcases the lavish residences of the royal family of Denmark and since 1905…
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