Oldenburg Castle

The Oldenburg Schloss is the former residence of the Counts (up to 1667), the Dukes (from 1785 ) and (from 1815) of the Grand Dukes of Oldenburg in the capital and residence city of Oldenburg, now located in Lower Saxony.

• 4.1 State Museum for Art and Cultural History
• 4.2 Other Terms

The castle as a residence

The oldest building phase of the current castle served from 1607 to 1667 as the residence of Count Anton Günter von Oldenburg ( 1583-1667 ). After his death, without legitimate heirs to the largest part of his territory fell for over a hundred years to the related Danish royal house. In the castle from then resided a Danish governor.

1773, the House Holstein - Gottorp took control of the newly created " Duchy of Oldenburg ." The castle was again residence and remained in that capacity until 1860. During that year the Grand Duke Nicholas Friedrich Peter ( 1827-1900 ) moved to the nearby Princes' Palace.

By 1894 the castle was the residence of the Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich August ( 1852-1931 ). After his abdication as the reigning Grand Duke during the November Revolution of 1918 and was orphaned of construction 1919/20, determined by the Government of the Free State of Oldenburg State Museum and handed over in 1923 to the public.

Architectural History

The castle is based on a medieval lowland castle, which was created in 1100 by the Counts of Oldenburg for control of a trade route from Westphalia to East Friesland. The individual buildings had to be founded on piles of oak shelves at the time. Only in the 15th century, the term in the round complex received a moat, making it the water castle. In a small room numerous residential and farm buildings were assembled that housed around 1600 a Hofhalt with about 350 people.

Count Anton Günther planned at the beginning of the 17th century, the transformation of deeply nested structures in a regular four wings according to Italian Stadtpalazzi. 1607 began with the first builder Anton Reinhardt masonry work. His successor was in office from 1609-1615 by the Italian architect Andrea Spezza ( 1580 -ca. 1628) from Ronio. On the development of the façade in the Renaissance style of the sculptor Ludwig Munster man (about 1575-1638 ) was involved. The ambitious project, however, came later than the beginning of the Thirty Years' War for reasons of cost to a halt.

The last remnants of the medieval castle had to be removed in the 18th century due to disrepair. On this occasion, the moat was mostly filled. The Danish government added in 1744 to the core structure of Count Anton Günther a simple annex for the National Administration ( "Law Firm wings "). With the accession of the Gottorfer Dukes appeared from representative reasons, an extension with ballroom necessary. It was built within four years as a residence for the Danish governor and minister Frederick Lewin Earl Holmer ( " Holmer - wing "). This task master builder Georg Hofer took Gregg (1719-1779) in 1775.

From 1817 on Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig ( 1755-1829 ) under the supervision of the classicist architect Heinrich Carl Slevogt ( 1787-1832 ) modernize the castle interiors and added another wing for royal kitchen and library as well as two carriage houses on. This " library wing " burned down in 1913, but was immediately rebuilt in its old form. 1894 had to be canceled due to dilapidation of the Danish "Law Firm wings." In its place created architect Louis Freese (1859-1916) after a design by Ludwig Klingenberg (1840-1924) a stylistic continuation of Anton -Günther - wing flavor of historicism. The core of this new building is the great castle hall in neo-Renaissance style with ceiling paintings by the painter Arthur Fitger of Bremen ( 1840-1909 ).

Historical representation spaces

Some of the historic state rooms in the castle are largely intact to this day. These include the Antiquarium, the oval reception room, the tower room, the Blue, Red and Green Salon, Strack Hall, the Throne Hall, the White Hall, the Marble Hall, the idyll rooms and the castle hall. The great castle hall was built in the Neo-Renaissance style with ceiling paintings by the painter Arthur Fitger of Bremen (1840-1909) equipped.

The oval reception room was designed with Grand Duke Paul Friedrich August in 1836. The room should be completed for the wedding of the daughter of the Grand Duke with the Greek King Otto I the following year. The approved by the Grand Duke magnificent plan was a " boiserie " ( paneling ) of light-colored wood Atlas and 48 mirror plates for the doors before. To the great annoyance of the Grand Duke, the work was not completed in time, so that Otto I could not use the reception room. It was not until 1838, two years after commencement of work, handed over the charge craftsmen the room the Oldenburgische Hofmarschallamt for use.

The Strack hall was named after the court painter Ludwig Philipp Strack ( 1761-1836 ). On draft Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein (1751-1829) go two historical furnaces in Strack - hall back. He created for this space 1818/19, six large, decorative panels with ideal Italian landscapes. You are up to now in place. Floors and stucco ceilings of the castle date back to the 19th century. In contrast, the equipment with furniture largely built in the early 1920s, as the building was completely vacated in November 1918 after the abdication of Grand Duke Friedrich August ( 1852-1931 ).

Oldenburg idyll cycle

Largely authentic is attested since 1835 idyll room. The Oldenburg court painter and first gallery inspector Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein (1751-1829) led on behalf of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig's Castle in Oldenburg the " Idylls " cycle out, which was completed in 1820 and is fully visible today in the idyllic rooms.

The 43 small panel paintings can be classified in shape and color of early Romanticism. Guided by an interest in the ancient seal available in Oldenburg idyll cycle in particular scenes from Greek mythology, Shepherd pieces, satyrs, nymphs and maenads next to the summery landscape of Arcadia at the forefront of design choice.

Tischbein had the idea to work on an idyllic cycle, developed in collaboration with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe during a stay in Italy. The poet should the verses, the painter contribute the stitches. Tischbein created sketches on the theme of idylls and drew Arcadian landscape motifs, antique illustrations, nymphs and gods. After the completion of the Oldenburg idyll cycle of the painter again sought contact with his friend Goethe. He hoped that the poet verses to his paintings and sent him a ribbon with 17 sketches and watercolors, which, however, were not identical with the paintings in Oldenburg. Goethe wrote the desired verses and prose comments for the painter.

The original hanging is not clearly understood. The furniture of this room, which is in contrast to its official designation has more to a room, were made ​​according to the design table leg.

Also, the " Homer " room equipped with a table leg from classical image program.

Museale use

State Museum for Art and Cultural History

The Oldenburg Castle houses the State Museum for Art and Cultural History of Oldenburg, a multi-branch museum with collections whose origins lie partly in the early 19th century. 1923, the castle became the seat of the National Museum for Art and Cultural History of Oldenburg, which also includes the Prince Palace and the Augusteum belong. The Grand Ducal collections form an essential foundation for today's state museum in the castle, where parts of the Old Masters Picture Gallery are shown with European art from the 16th to the 19th century.

Around 800 cultural and historical exhibits illustrate the peculiarities of the Oldenburg State over the centuries, starting from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Involved in the Arts and Crafts collection on the first floor are the holdings of the former Museum of Decorative Arts. Here is a history of development of applied art from the Romanesque period to the 1930s, is shown on 400 square meters. To see include medieval manuscripts, ivories, Art Nouveau and Bauhaus design ensembles. In the library wing regularly special exhibitions. The state rooms of the castle are included in the tour.

Further use

• From 1945 to 1998, a ballroom in the castle of Oldenburg Oldenburg State Theatre was used as a " Castle Theatre ".
• The castle is one of five venues within the concert series "Oldenburg Promenade".
• The "Economic Association Oldenburg " invites regularly since 1957 to the " Small Circle ", a "Schloss evening " in Oldenburg castle one can participate in the up to 250 guests.

Palace Square during the City Festival 2012

Outside view of the dam