back
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Berg Castle | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| Berg Castle, near the town of Colmar-Berg, is one of the two residences that the State places at the disposal of the reigning Grand Duke. | ||||||||||||||||
| Although the estate of Berg dates from 1311, the castle first came into royal hands in 1845, when King Grand Duke William II purchased it from Baron Claude de Pasquier. | ||||||||||||||||
| In 1891, Grand Duke Adolphe bought the castle, which became the home of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume IV and his wife, the Infanta Marie-Anne of Portugal. In 1894, Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide became the first Luxembourg monarch to be born in the Grand Duchy. | ||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
| After his accession to the throne, Grand Duke Guillaume IV had the old structure demolished and built the present castle, to designs by Max Ostenrieder and Pierre Funck-Eydt. | ||||||||||||||||
| Photo: Berg Castle as rebuilt by Grand Duke Guillaume IV | ||||||||||||||||
| In 1934, the Luxembourg state acquired the castle and placed it at the disposal of the grand-ducal family. During the Second World War, whilst Grand Duchess Charlotte was in exile in London, the occupying German forces used the castle as a school for young girls. Much damage was caused to the building, as well as to its furniture and works of art. | ||||||||||||||||
| The new constitution of 1948 reserved Berg Castle exclusively for the use of the Grand Duke. However, the renovations that were necesary after the war meant that the castle was not inhabited again until the accession of Grand Duke Jean in 1964. | ||||||||||||||||
| Berg Castle is primarily used as the Grand Duke's private residence, but on occasion is used in connection with official engagements. The castle is currently the residence of Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and their children. back |
||||||||||||||||