Glücksburg Castle (Germany)

Castle Glücksburg, built between 1583 and 1587 under the Duke John the Younger (1545-1622), belongs to the most significant complex of the castle in Northern Europe. The builder, Nikolaus Karies, built the castle on the site of an ancient Cistercian monastery (Kloster rude), which in turn has had medieval religious origins. Granite from the previous construction was reused in existing databases and many of the old bricks also found further use in the charming white-washed building today.

The castle was named after the Duke's motto: "Gott Gebe Glück Mir Frieden" (God wants happiness and peace). The initial letters of the motto can be found, with the coat of arms of the Duke, above the entrance. Next to them are the arms of the Duke two wives left by the family of Brunswick-Lüneburg and, on the right, that of the Electorate of Saxony.