Betzdorf Castle
Encyclopedia
Betzdorf Castle is a former castle in the commune
Communes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...

 of Betzdorf
Betzdorf, Luxembourg
Betzdorf is a commune and village in eastern Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Grevenmacher, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. The commune's administrative centre is Berg....

, in eastern Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...

. It is the headquarters of SES S.A., the world's largest satellite operator in terms of revenue and the largest component of Luxembourg Stock Exchange
Luxembourg Stock Exchange
The Luxembourg Stock Exchange is a stock exchange based in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.The Exchange is located on avenue de la Porte-Neuve,...

's main LuxX Index
LuxX Index
The LuxX Index is the main stock market index of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, the stock exchange based in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The LuxX is a weighted index of the eleven most valuable listed stocks by free floated market capitalisation...

. It is located north-west of Betzdorf village, to the north of the CFL Line 30
CFL Line 30
Line 30 is a Luxembourgian railway line connecting Luxembourg City to Wasserbillig, and on to Schweich, in western Germany. The terminus at the western end is Luxembourg railway station...

 railway line. Since its acquisition by SES, the company has built a large commercial and industrial centre around the castle.

It should not be confused with Berg Castle, located in nearby Berg
Berg, Luxembourg
Berg is a village in the commune of Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 88. It is the administrative centre of Betzdorf commune....

, which serves as the communal headquarters for Betzdorf.

History

The castle was the home of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma...

 from his marriage to Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, on 9 April 1953, until 16 November 1964, when he succeeded to the Grand Duchy
Grand Duke of Luxembourg
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the sovereign monarch and head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it was elevated from a duchy when placed in personal union with the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...

 upon Grand Duchess Charlotte
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.-Early life and life as Grand Duchess:...

's resignation. All of Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte's children were born at Betzdorf Castle:
  • Princess Marie-Astrid
    Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria
    Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria , is the oldest daughter and the first child of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, and the wife of Archduke Carl Christian of Austria...

     (born 17 February 1954)
  • Grand Duke Henri
    Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
    Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden...

     (born 16 April 1955)
  • Prince Jean
    Prince Jean of Luxembourg
    Prince Jean of Luxembourg was born on 15 May 1957 at Betzdorf Castle, the second son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. He is the twin brother of Princess Margaretha. His godparents are Prince Felix of Luxembourg and Princess Margrethe of Denmark...

     and Princess Margaretha
    Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein
    Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein is the fourth child and second daughter of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg...

      (twins born 15 May 1957)
  • Prince Guillaume
    Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg
    Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg born 1 May 1963 in Betzdorf Castle, is the third son and youngest child of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg.-Life:...

     (born 1 May 1963)


After the vacation by new Grand Duke's family, the castle became a nursing home, which it remained until 1982. In July of that year, the castle served as a base camp for 3,000 Scout
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

s celebrating the 75th anniversary of the movement's foundation. Afterwards, it was left empty until SES bought the castle in 1986 and began extensive development work to make it their headquarters.
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