Franzhagen Castle
Encyclopedia
The Franzhagen Castle - also known as Franzgarten or Franzhof was a castle near the present-day Schulendorf
in southern Schleswig-Holstein
. Before its destruction in 1716 it was owned by the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
.
The castle was based on an older structure that may have originated in the Middle Ages
. Under Mary of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel a grange
and was added in 1608 her husband Duke Francis II
of Saxe-Lauenburg expanded it into a large castle with extensive gardens. The duke ran out of funds during the construction, so that, according to a local legend, the workers were left behind unpaid. Francis II lived in the castle until his death in 1619. After his death, it was inherited by his son-in-law Philip of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
. After Philip's death, the castle passed his nephew, John Christian, whose son Christian Adolph founded the short-lived family branche named after the castle, the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen
line.
Early in the 18th Century, the castle had to be demolished, because it was too dilapidated. Nothing remains of the building itself; the only reminder of its existence is a street named ("court moat"), at the edge of the former castle district. Some of the furnishings of the chapel (which was also demolished), found their way into the St. Mary's Church in neighbouring Büchen
.
Schulendorf
Schulendorf is a municipality in the district of Lauenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
in southern Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. Before its destruction in 1716 it was owned by the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg was the name of a branch line of the House of Oldenburg as well as the name of their land. It existed from 1564 until 1668 and was a titular duchy under the King of Denmark, rather than a true territorial dukedom in its own right...
.
The castle was based on an older structure that may have originated in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Under Mary of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel a grange
Grange
-Buildings:* Grange House , Bo'ness, Scotland, built in 1564, and demolished in 1906* Hamilton Grange National Memorial, a historic house in New York City...
and was added in 1608 her husband Duke Francis II
Francis II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg , was the third son of Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg , daughter of Duke Henry IV the Pious of Saxony...
of Saxe-Lauenburg expanded it into a large castle with extensive gardens. The duke ran out of funds during the construction, so that, according to a local legend, the workers were left behind unpaid. Francis II lived in the castle until his death in 1619. After his death, it was inherited by his son-in-law Philip of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Philip, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Philip of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg was the first Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg after the death of his father in 1622...
. After Philip's death, the castle passed his nephew, John Christian, whose son Christian Adolph founded the short-lived family branche named after the castle, the Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen
The Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Franzhagen line was a short-lived name of the main line of the ducal house of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, after its bankruptcy in 1667. The name is derived from the Franzhagen Castle in Schulendorf in the duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg...
line.
Early in the 18th Century, the castle had to be demolished, because it was too dilapidated. Nothing remains of the building itself; the only reminder of its existence is a street named ("court moat"), at the edge of the former castle district. Some of the furnishings of the chapel (which was also demolished), found their way into the St. Mary's Church in neighbouring Büchen
Büchen
Büchen is a municipality in the district of Lauenburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the Elbe-Lübeck Canal, approx. 13 km northeast of Lauenburg/Elbe, and 45 km east of Hamburg....
.