# Augustenborg Palace

- **Country:** Denmark

Augustenborg Palace, also known as Augustenborg Castle, is a historic residence located in the southwestern part of Augustenborg on Als Island in southern Denmark. Overlooking the Augustenborg Fjord, the site originally featured a half-timbered manor house constructed between 1660 and 1664 by Ernest Günther, the first Duke of Augustenborg. The current structure largely dates from a major reconstruction effort between 1770 and 1776, which replaced the original manor with a symmetrical three-winged building. While the palace is frequently described as Rococo-style, particularly regarding its interior decorations and specific wings added in the 18th century, the main building stands as a fine example of Baroque architecture. The exterior is characterized by yellow-painted walls, a blue-tiled roof, and a central facade that protrudes three storeys high.

The palace holds significant historical importance as the namesake of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, a ducal line that played a pivotal role in regional history until the death of Duke Christian August II in 1869. The estate was named after Duchess Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. Inside, the palace boasts an elegant entrance hall finished in white-painted stucco by the renowned Italian decorator Michel Angelo Taddei. Taddei also contributed to the interior of the two-storey Baroque chapel located in the northern wing, enhancing the building with distinct Rococo artistic elements. Following renovations in the late 1770s and again during the 1920s, the complex has been preserved as a key cultural landmark. Today, the grounds include outer courtyard buildings with red roofs that were added starting in 1733, completing the expansive architectural ensemble that defines this Danish heritage site.

![Photo of Augustenborg Palace](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Augustenborg%2C_Hofansicht.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustenborg_Palace (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)