Top Destination of the Month Germany
Glücksburg Castle A royal jewel high up in the North One of the most beautiful and significant Northern European water castles lies high up in the northern town of Glücksburg near the Danish border and close to the Baltic Sea coast. The Renaissance castle blends stunning architecture with a most compelling past.
Mian image: Bird's view of Glücksburg Castle. Photo: Thomas Raake From top down: Chapel. Photo: Olff Appold Princess Birthday in Glücksburg Castle. Photo: Sven Geißler Suite Royal. Photo: Günther Blankenagel Bottom: The magnificent castle at night. Photo: Olff Appold
TEXT: TINA AWTANI
ing on how people got to know each other in the old times. It is a passionate and entertaining time journey through aristocratic dating behaviour,” Ascheron recommends.
Glücksburg literally translates into 'happy town'. Still the official residence of the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein, the magnificent white fairytale castle is steeped into 400 years of history.“Christian IX grew up in parts of the castle before he was crowned King of Denmark in 1863. Remarkably he managed to place all his six children within other European royal families through marriage. For this reason Glücksburg is often referred to as the ‘cradle of European aristocracy’. Today’s Queen Margrethe II of Denmark also derives from the House of Glücksburg,” Susanne Ascheron, managing director of the Glücksburg Castle Foundation, explains.
Apart from guided tours, Glücksburg Castle offers a colourful event calendar throughout the year including concerts like the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival or open-air theatre performances in the castle yard such as Shakespeare in original language. Watch out for the Halloween season, as guided tours through the castle prison and the torture chamber are scheduled (not for the faint hearted).
At Glücksburg Castle history literally comes alive and all guides are dressed in costumes from the late 19th century when sharing enchanting and amusing stories about the former residents and visitors.“The Flirt in the Castle tour is particularly interesting, focus-
Bursting with romance, Glücksburg Castle is a very popular event location.“Up to 300 couples come here each year to tie the knot, inspired by our heraldic motto ‘may god grant happiness and peace’. And little visitors love to celebrate their birthdays in
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princess style in the castle. After all, we still have two real princesses residing here,”Ascheron says. Exciting news includes the opening of the brand new 150-square-metre Suite Royal holiday apartment in the cavalier house. Offering space for up to six people, it allows to sleep like royalty in a fairytale castle when visiting Glücksburg. www.schloss-gluecksburg.de www.fewo1846.de