This is the palace “Glücksburg”: The history of the area – Photos and videos

One of the most idyllic images of northern germany is the southern end of Flensburg Fjord, in the Baltic Sea. Around an old monastery, the settlement of Glücksburg (Glücksburg in German, Lyksborg in Danish) begins to be built there in 1210. Later the monastery will be declassified, to give way to the emblematic Renaissance Palace of Glücksburg, in an area of ​​outstanding natural beauty. The influences from French architecture are evident. The Palace is surrounded by a lake, while more than 500 types of roses are grown in its garden.

Greece was associated with the royal house of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg after the eviction of Otto and the end of the “Bavaria rule”. The matching of the names is obvious: Schleswig-Holstein is still called today the northernmost state of Germany, with Kiel as its capital. Sonderburg has been the summer residence of the Danish royal family since 1935. The same role had previously been played by Glücksburg.’

Change of borders after the war of 1864

But why is Glücksburg on German soil today?The reason is the victorious war of Prussia against Denmark in 1864. It was the first of Bismarck’s great wars, which led “through fire and iron” to the establishment of a unified German state in 1871. “A hotbed of contention” at that time were the strategically important regions of Schleswig and Holstein, with privileged access to the Baltic, but also to the North Sea.

In the war of 1864, Denmark suffered total destruction, as it lost a third of its total territory. “This defeat had consequences for the whole country,” says Danish historian Hans Schulz Hansen on the German NDR network. “Many began to question whether Denmark could survive as an independent country. They feared that it would be divided between the great powers of the time, Prussia and Sweden.”

The Royal Family of Denmark

In contrast to Greece, where the institution of the monarchy in the form we find in Western Europe did not take root, for the Danes the royal family is a symbol of unity. Queen Margarita, 82 years old today, sister of Anna Maria and longest-serving monarch in Europe, remains particularly beloved. Some appreciate her – while others certainly criticize her – for her insistence on smoking in public, ignoring the dictates of political correctness.

Since 1922 the Danish royal family has entrusted the maintenance of Glijksburg Palace to a foundation, which is currently headed by Prince Christopher. The foundation is funded by subscriptions, donations, government funding, visits and events.

Entrance to the Palace costs ten euros, while there is a discount for students. A function room is available for weddings, in consultation with Flensburg town hall, for 230 euros. The newspaper Die Welt previously reported on legal disputes between the local government of Schleswig-Holstein and Prince Christopher, who was demanding an increase in the state subsidy for the maintenance of the Palace.

DW – Giannis Papadimitriou

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