The original building on an artificial island appeared in 1585 at the initiative of Peter Rantzau, adviser to the Danish king. Danish, because these lands in those years belonged to Denmark. A village for servants was built nearby.
The castle belonged to the Rantzau family until 1759, when it was sold to one of the richest people of the time, Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann. Initially, he was a commoner, but managed to get rich and thanks to money he became a count, just like Monte Cristo. He made his huge fortune first by speculating in Europe, and then by trading in arms, smuggling and slave trade in Africa and America. Not everyone loves him in Germany and the monument erected in the early 2000s had to be removed due to protests and vandals.
He rebuilt the castle and the village, built factories and gave it a new life. The Schimmelmanns sold the castle to the state in 1932 and now it hosts a museum.
Ahrensburg Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Ahrensburg Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Ahrensburg Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Ahrensburg Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Ahrensburg Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: Parking N 53 40.885 E 10 14.491. Or go by train to Ahrensburg station, use bahn.de.
