Gråsten Palace ( da, Gråsten Slot) is located at Gråsten in the

Jutland Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...

region of southern

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

. It is best known for being the summer residence of the

Danish Royal Family The Danish royal family is the dynastic family of the monarch. All members of the Danish royal family except Queen Margrethe II hold the title of ''Prince/Princess of Denmark''. Dynastic children of the monarch and of the heir apparent are accor ...

. The main house has a modern, all-white facade, with Venetian doors opening onto sweeping, manicured lawns and gravel walkways. The grounds include a huge stables court.

History

Gråsten was in its first edition a small hunting castle built in the middle of the 16th century. The south wing of the present-day main house is believed to be built on the site of the second structure, that was built in 1603 to replace a hunting lodge which had been destroyed in a fire in the middle of the 16th century.Gråsten Palace
Palaces and Properties Agency After about three and a half succeeding centuries of ownership by

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

nobles Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The characteri ...

, Gråsten Slot was taken over by the State, extensively restored, and by 1935, it was the summer residence for then-Crown Prince Frederik, later King

Frederik IX Frederick IX ( da, Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg; 11 March 1899 – 14 January 1972) was List of Danish monarchs, King of Denmark from 1947 to 1972. Born into the House of Glücksburg, Frederick was the elder son of Ch ...

, and Crown Princess Ingrid, later Queen

Ingrid Ingrid may refer to: * Ingrid (given name) * Ingrid (record label), and artist collective * Ingrid Burley, rapper known mononymously as Ingrid * Tropical Storm Ingrid, various cyclones * 1026 Ingrid, an asteroid * InGrid, the grid computing project ...

, who adored the palace until her death in November 2000. It is the usual venue for the royal family's official summer photo shoot. In November 1845, Hans Christian Andersen visited Duke Christian August II at Gråsten Castle. Legend had it that Gråsten Palace was where Andersen wrote ''

The Little Match Girl "The Little Match Girl" ( da, Den Lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne, meaning "The little girl with the sulphur-sticks", i.e. matches) is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story, about a dying child's dre ...

,'' during his visit. However that is not the case. Andersen wrote it when he visited Augustenborg Palace.

Landscape and Palace Chapel

The estate area has an area of . The property includes a stables court, manicured lawns, and gravel walkways. Graasten Palace Chapel in the north wing is the only building remaining from the original baroque palace after a 1757 fire. Despite a badly damaged interior from the

Second Schleswig War The Second Schleswig War ( da, Krigen i 1864; german: Deutsch-Dänischer Krieg) also sometimes known as the Dano-Prussian War or Prusso-Danish War was the second military conflict over the Schleswig-Holstein Question of the nineteenth century. ...

, the chapel is decorated with 80 paintings. The chapel has bilingual congregations, with

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

and

services to accommodate the mix of local culture.

References

External links

Gråsten Palace and Palace Gardens
Agency for Palaces and Cultural Properties

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grasten Palace Palaces in Denmark Royal residences in Denmark Castles in the Region of Southern Denmark Listed buildings and structures in Sønderborg Municipality