Ahrensburg Castle

Ahrensburg, Germany

The Ahrensburg village came into the possession of the Cistercian Reinfeld Abbey in 1327. After the dissolution of the monasteries due to the Reformation, the whole area came into the possession of the king of Denmark. He rewarded his general Daniel Rantzau 1567 with lordship over these villages. His brother and heir Peter Rantzau built a Renaissance residence in the form of a water castle, now the symbol of the town, and the castle church around 1595. The new schloss buildings were made with parts of the torn-down mansion, on a rectangular island surrounded by a defensive moat. The following year, the chapel was completed. It was modelled on Schloss Glücksburg, built a few years earlier. Four octagonal towers were added later with copper-covered torn heads and lanterns.

The Rantzaus' estate was heavily indebted by the middle of the 18th century and, in 1759, was acquired by the businessman Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann. Schimmelmann remodelled the castle and village in the baroque style and the current layout of the town reflects these plans.

Historians in Germany consider the building one of Schleswig-Holstein's best-known Renaissance buildings and attractions. Open to the public, it is surrounded by an English park, a chapel, a watermill and a museum.

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Details

Founded: 1595
Category: Castles and fortifications in Germany
Historical period: Reformation & Wars of Religion (Germany)

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

David George Harmer (9 months ago)
Amazing Park für Picknicking and well worth the visit, history lessons ?
ionel C (9 months ago)
A lovely place to visit and the gardens nearby full with flowers, are extraordinary. Quite a tasty ice-cream I have found in "Zentrum" Overall a 10 out of 10 for a Sunday afternoon
Robin Diwisch (9 months ago)
Amazing place to visit. I very much enjoyed learning about the history of the building. The necessity of protecting the floors is obvious and I am happy that they do care for it a lot. The rooms are magnificent and impressive. The most surprising part to me was that there is actually an app that guides you. Sadly we had a tight schedule and therefore I couldn't test the App very well. So I cant judge the quality of it. But the pure existence of a digital guide is amazing to me ^^
Z (2 years ago)
Beautiful place, especially during winter. The parks and huge natural areas around the castle are perfect for long, relaxing, near-silent walks. You could take in all of its beauty from the outside, but you can go inside as well, and travel back in time, to learn about the life in Ahrensburg, when people were still actually living in the castle.
Mohammed Al-eryani (2 years ago)
A Fairytale Castle Ahrensburg Palace is a magnificent gem that transports visitors to a bygone era of royalty and elegance. The castle's well-preserved exterior and opulent interior decor create a fairytale-like ambiance. The guided tour offers captivating insights into its history, making the experience truly unforgettable. The picturesque gardens provide a serene escape. A must-visit destination for history and architecture enthusiasts alike!
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