Schackenborg Castle
Encyclopedia
Schackenborg Castle is a royal residence of the Danish monarch located in Møgeltønder
, South Jutland.
Originally called Møgeltønderhus (Møgeltønder House) the former stronghold on the site was the property of the Roman Catholic bishops of Ribe
. It served as protection against the Frisians
in the south, and guarded the waterway that joined Vidå
to Tønder
. During the Reformation in Denmark
the mansion was confiscated from the Church by the Danish crown. Count Hans von Schack, a Schleswig
nobleman and soldier was given Møgeltønderhus as a token of King Frederick III of Denmark
's gratitude for his military achievements in the Northern Wars
. Von Schack demolished most of the mansion in 1661 due to its bad condition, building the more impressive, baroque
style "Schackenborg Castle". In 1680 a street was laid out from the manor house, leading toward the local church. For eleven generations the Castle belonged to the von Schack dynasty before reverting to the Danish Royal Family
again in 1978.
Schackenborg and the extensive estate was transferred to Prince Joachim
, the younger son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
. In 1995 it was announced that Prince Joachim and then-Princess Alexandra would finally be moving into the residence. For their wedding a national collection was made, known as the "Nation's Gift". Several million Danish kroner were raised. Prince Joachim announced that the money would be spent on a restoration programme for the castle.
The castle and the surrounding park are not open to the general public, however guided tours of the gardens are sometimes available during the summer.
Møgeltønder
Møgeltønder is a small town with a population of 896 , located in Møgeltønder Parish and Tønder Municipality in the southwestern corner of the Danish peninsula of Jutland 5 kilometers north of the Danish-German border and 4 kilometer west of Tønder.Møgeltønder is known for the royal residence of...
, South Jutland.
Originally called Møgeltønderhus (Møgeltønder House) the former stronghold on the site was the property of the Roman Catholic bishops of Ribe
Roman Catholic bishopric of Ribe
The former Roman Catholic diocese of Ribe consisted of the modern Danish Provinces of Ribe, Vejle and Ringkøbing, and part of South Jutland. The first church built at Ribe was founded by Saint Ansgar in 860, served by his biographer and successor, Saint Rembert, and destroyed during the heathen...
. It served as protection against the Frisians
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
in the south, and guarded the waterway that joined Vidå
Vidå
The Vidå is a creek in Jutland, Denmark. The creek starts east of Tønder and flows to the west, ending in the North Sea. The Vidå is in parts border between Denmark and Germany .South of the river live the North Frisians....
to Tønder
Tønder
Tønder is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,278 km², and has a total population of 40,367...
. During the Reformation in Denmark
Reformation in Denmark
The Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein was the transition from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism in the realms ruled by the Copenhagen-based House of Oldenburg in the first half of the sixteenth century...
the mansion was confiscated from the Church by the Danish crown. Count Hans von Schack, a Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
nobleman and soldier was given Møgeltønderhus as a token of King Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
's gratitude for his military achievements in the Northern Wars
Northern Wars
Northern Wars is a term used for a series of wars fought in northern and northeastern Europe in the 16th and 17th century. An internationally agreed nomenclature for these wars has not yet been devised...
. Von Schack demolished most of the mansion in 1661 due to its bad condition, building the more impressive, baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style "Schackenborg Castle". In 1680 a street was laid out from the manor house, leading toward the local church. For eleven generations the Castle belonged to the von Schack dynasty before reverting to the Danish Royal Family
Danish Royal Family
The Danish Royal Family includes the Queen of Denmark and her family. All members except the Queen hold the title of Prince/Princess of Denmark with the style of His/Her Royal Highness or His/Her Highness. The Queen is styled Her Majesty. The Queen and her siblings belong to the House of...
again in 1978.
Schackenborg and the extensive estate was transferred to Prince Joachim
Prince Joachim of Denmark
Prince Joachim of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, , is a member of the Danish Royal Family. He is the younger son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark....
, the younger son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
. In 1995 it was announced that Prince Joachim and then-Princess Alexandra would finally be moving into the residence. For their wedding a national collection was made, known as the "Nation's Gift". Several million Danish kroner were raised. Prince Joachim announced that the money would be spent on a restoration programme for the castle.
The castle and the surrounding park are not open to the general public, however guided tours of the gardens are sometimes available during the summer.