Schloss Glücksburg: The Romantic Castle
Schloss Glücksburg is a horseshoe-shaped palace standing on in the middle of a large lake. It is situated in Glücksburg on the west of the Baltic Sea. Schloss refers to a manor house, palace or chateau and when surrounded by a lake or a moat it is called Wasserschloss. After the Middle Ages, Schlosser was built for the nobility to reside in. Glücksburg Castle, constructed from 1582 to 1587 enjoys a position among the most important Renaissance castles in north Europe. The Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein and the line of Danish kings of House Oldenburg have called this castle their own. The Glücksburg is a significant historical building with medieval religious roots.
History:
The history of the castle of Glücksburg begins in the early 13th century when the local Cistercian monks set up a male monastery in the grounds where the castle now stands. After the double monastery of St. Michael in Schleswig was dissolved, their search for a new residence led them to Flensburg Fjord. The history shaped the monastery over 300 years. The effect of Reformation caused the building to be secularized in 1538. In 1544, the Danish King Christian the Third seized the convent building and converted into royal quarters. In 1582, King Frederick the Second, the son and successor of King Christian passed over the possession of the monastery over to his brother the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein. He remodeled the monastery and built a country fortress in the style of the age. The site was then flooded so that a large pond surrounded the grand white plastered castle. Nikolaus Karies was the builder who erected the castle using the granite from the previous construction. The motto of the Duke, “Gott Gebe Glück Mit Frieden” meaning ‘God grant happiness and peace’ echoes in the name attributed to the castle.
Five generations of the Dukes of Glucksburg lived in the castle between 1622 and 1779. After the last Duke had died, King Friedrich VI of Denmark awarded the title and the palace to Duke Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck in 1825. The castle was also used as a medical facility by the Prussian troops in the German-Danish war in 1864 and 1865. The bells of the castle were seized and melted down in the First World War for supplies. At the end of the Second World War, the building served as a detention center for the prisoners of war. Otherwise, the cultural heritage escaped the war unscathed.
In 1922 the castle was made into a foundation by the ducal family. Many parts of the edifice became a museum and opened to public viewing in 1948.
Structure:
The castle does not maintain any particular style. Architectural characteristics of the Middle Ages and Renaissance are depicted in the monument. Planned initially as a stately residence, it looks like an aristocratic medieval architecture. Unlike most water towers, this building is not constructed on stilts but it stands on a granite slab of 2.5-meter height. There are three separate houses each with a separate roof. The square boundary of the castle consists of three gabled buildings each being 30 meters in dimension. Octagon shaped towers of 7-meter diameter flake every corner. It is built on a French model with four towers serving as pavilions and symmetrical rooms with the hall in the center. The middle section of the roof holds a ridge turret which dates back to the 1700s. The two side houses consist of the living quarters while the middle houses the halls and vestibules. With the exception of the upper floor, all the other rooms including the magnificent Knights’ Hall and Banquets’ Hall are arched. The halls and lounges are magnificently decked up with portraits of kings, dukes, and other European royal personalities, landscape paintings, exquisite stucco work, elegant porcelain and silverware sets, etc. Remarkable calfskin wallpapers adorn the walls. The basement is located below the water table. The storerooms and kitchens were here previously. Below the entrance the former prison speaks of historical wars and battles. The entrance hall is reached through a stone dam. The interior is decorated in baroque style. The main gate that adjoins the coach house was renewed in the 17th century. Initially, a drawbridge led the way from the gate across the moat. Later it was replaced by a granite bridge.
Duke Philip Ernest directed the chapel in 1717 which is located in the lower vaults. It is an early Protestant church containing the German pulpit altar dressed with woodcarvings created by Claus Gabriel. The crypts of the older Glücksburg descendants lie here.
Outside of the castle is a farmyard, a beautiful palace garden surrounded by water. Next to the garden is the Rosarium filled with various kinds of roses.
Present:
Today among the members of House Glücksburg, only the Norwegian King Herald the Fifth, the Danish Queen Margrethe the Second, the Spanish Queen Sophia and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip remain. The museum contains a fine collection of Renaissance art, furniture, and other attractions. Dutch tapestries, Flemish leather wall coverings, stucco ceilings, frescos, 16th-century portraits, mementos of historical significance, Rococo-era murals and other artifacts offer an insight into German and Danish history.
Various events are held in the castle. The palace is available for hosting special ceremonies, meetings, and corporate events. Several halls, rooms, the orangery and the garden can be rented for weddings and other occasions. The castle basement now holds a restaurant offering the ambiance and delicacy of royalty. The orangery has been renovated to host art exhibitions and concerts.
A Rose Festival is held every year since 2005 in the Rosarium in late June or early July. Rose Queen and Rose Princess are crowned in the festival. The chosen ‘Rose Majesties’ are honored with the opportunity to represent the tourism of Flensburg Fjord.
Tour:
The Glücksburg Castle is open from May 1st and will remain open until 31st October 2016 every day of the week from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. In the low season, from November to end of April, it is open on weekends from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. The last tourists are admitted one hour before the closing time. Castle tours are available with the informative audio guide in English, Danish or German daily at 2 P.M. in July and August. In September to October and May to June, tours are possible on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday at 2 P.M. and every Sunday in November to April. There is sufficient parking facility in front of the castle with meager parking cost. For a family, ticket admission costs about 16 euros. Admission is free for children below six years. At the start of the tour, a 15-minute film depicting the history of the castle and its residents is shown. A complete tour from the basement to the roof takes about two to three hours.
You can stay at the Strandhotel Glucksburg situated close to the water castle right at the edge of the water. The ‘Premier Rooms’ give a spectacular view of the Flensburg Fjord. Vitalhotel Alter Meierhof is a five-star hotel 5-7 kilometers drive from the castle. Just across the road from the Glucksburg is the Hotel am Wasserschloss.
Rich with the history of Germany and Denmark, a survivor of battles and wars, this iconic monument Palace gives an impression of the lifestyle and circumstance of the nobility of 16th to 19th century. The Wasserschloss takes the visitors back in time to view the creative and architectural wonders of the Renaissance. This magical Disney like palace is beautiful, picturesque and well worth a visit. Go ahead and plan a visit to this amazing place. With lots of places to explore and roam about, this tourist location is the perfect choice if you wish to escape the routine life for a few days and worry about nothing but your happiness. Visit Schloss Glucksburg, you won’t regret it!