Fischbach Castle
Encyclopedia
Fischbach Castle is a castle in Luxembourg
. It is situated near the town of Fischbach
, in central Luxembourg.
, which was the wealthiest institution in Luxembourg for centuries. The first liege independent of the Church is recorded as having taken possession of the castle in 1050. The castle underwent several renovations and alterations, including being completely destroyed in 1635, during the Thirty Years' War
.
During the second quarter of the 19th Century, the castle was owned by Auguste Garnier, an industrialist and metallurgist, who had turned the estate into an industrial centre by building blast furnace
s there. The castle was first acquired by a head of state
in 1850, when Grand Duke William II
bought the estate to consolidate his political control of Luxembourg and to placate the local populace after the Belgian Revolution
. He immediately ordered the demolition of Garnier's blast furnaces.
In 1884, Fischbach Castle was bought from Grand Duke William III
by Duke Adolphe of Nassau
, who would become Grand Duke of Luxembourg when the personal union
of the Netherlands and Luxembourg ended in 1890.
During the Nazi
occupation of the Second World War, Fischbach was converted into a rest home for German artists, calling it Künstlerheim Fischbach. Despite this designation, Fischbach did not avoid the looting of art and historic artefacts that befell other palaces in Luxembourg. However, unlike the other palaces, it was not renovated or partly demolished to suit the Nazis' intentions, leaving it habitable by Grand Duchess Charlotte
when she returned from exile.
Due to the unsuitability of the other royal palaces, Charlotte continued to live at Fischbach after the war, and took a liking to the place. Even after the full restoration of Berg Castle
and the Grand Ducal Palace
, Grand Duchess Charlotte remained at Fischbach for the rest of her reign. Indeed, even after she abdicated, in 1964, she decided to live at Fischbach until she died in 1985. Two years after Charlotte's death, Prince Henri
and Princess Maria Teresa
moved into the castle, where they lived until Henri succeeded his father, Jean
, as Grand Duke
, in 2000.
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 situated near the town of Fischbach
Fischbach, Luxembourg
Fischbach is a commune and village in central Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Mersch, which is part of the district of Luxembourg., the village of Fischbach, which lies in the centre of the commune, has a population of 178. Other towns within the commune include Angelsberg and Schoos...
, in central Luxembourg.
History
Fischbach has the longest history of any of Luxembourg's castles. The estate of Fischbach was originally owned by Abbey of EchternachAbbey of Echternach
The Abbey of Echternach is a Benedictine monastery in the town of Echternach, in eastern Luxembourg. The Abbey was founded by St Willibrord, the patron saint of Luxembourg, in the seventh century...
, which was the wealthiest institution in Luxembourg for centuries. The first liege independent of the Church is recorded as having taken possession of the castle in 1050. The castle underwent several renovations and alterations, including being completely destroyed in 1635, during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
During the second quarter of the 19th Century, the castle was owned by Auguste Garnier, an industrialist and metallurgist, who had turned the estate into an industrial centre by building blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
s there. The castle was first acquired by a head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
in 1850, when Grand Duke William II
William II of the Netherlands
William II was King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg from 7 October 1840 until his death in 1849.- Early life and education :...
bought the estate to consolidate his political control of Luxembourg and to placate the local populace after the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
. He immediately ordered the demolition of Garnier's blast furnaces.
In 1884, Fischbach Castle was bought from Grand Duke William III
William III of the Netherlands
William III was from 1849 King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg until his death and the Duke of Limburg until the abolition of the Duchy in 1866.-Early life:William was born in Brussels as son of William II of the Netherlands and...
by Duke Adolphe of Nassau
Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Adolphe I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Biography:...
, who would become Grand Duke of Luxembourg when the personal union
Personal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
of the Netherlands and Luxembourg ended in 1890.
During the Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation of the Second World War, Fischbach was converted into a rest home for German artists, calling it Künstlerheim Fischbach. Despite this designation, Fischbach did not avoid the looting of art and historic artefacts that befell other palaces in Luxembourg. However, unlike the other palaces, it was not renovated or partly demolished to suit the Nazis' intentions, leaving it habitable by 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:...
when she returned from exile.
Due to the unsuitability of the other royal palaces, Charlotte continued to live at Fischbach after the war, and took a liking to the place. Even after the full restoration of Berg Castle
Berg Castle
Berg Castle , also called Colmar-Berg, is the principal residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. It is situated in the town of Colmar-Berg, in central Luxembourg, near the confluence of the Alzette and the Attert, two of Luxembourg's most important rivers.-History:The estate at Colmar-Berg first...
and the Grand Ducal Palace
Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg
The Grand Ducal Palace is a palace in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is the official residence of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and where he performs most of his duties as head of state of the Grand Duchy.-History:...
, Grand Duchess Charlotte remained at Fischbach for the rest of her reign. Indeed, even after she abdicated, in 1964, she decided to live at Fischbach until she died in 1985. Two years after Charlotte's death, Prince 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...
and Princess Maria Teresa
Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg is the spouse and Grand Duchess of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Early life and education:...
moved into the castle, where they lived until Henri succeeded his father, 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...
, as Grand Duke
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...
, in 2000.