The first records of a structure on this island date back to 973 with a fort that belonged to the Polabian Slav tribe of the Obotrites. In 1160 the fort became a target of Germanic noblemen planning to expand their territory eastward under the leadership of Henry the Lion (1129-1195). The Obotries destroyed the fort but left because of Germanic military dominance. The German's recognized the island's strategic importance and began to build another fort on the island. The city of Schwerin also began to be built at this time.
In 1167, Henry the Lion gave Schwerin to his vassal Gunzelin von Hagen, and the rest of the country around the city was returned to Niklot's son, Pribislav, and that formed a hereditary ducal line that lasted until 1918.
In the 16th century, the building on the island experienced many changes under John Albert I, Duke of Mecklenburg (1525-1576). The fort became a palace, and the defences were replaced with ornamentation and concessions to comfort.
John Albert rebuilt the palace's chapel and it became the states first new Protestant church.
IN 1837 the ducal residence moved to Schwerin, but the building was in bad condition. Grand Duke Friedrich (1800-1842) instructed his architect Georg Adolph Demmler (1804-1886) to remodel the palace. Friedrich's successor, Friedrich Franz II (1823-1883), halted construction and ordered a complete reconstruction of the entire site.
Revolution in 1918 resulted in the abdicated of the Grand Duke. The castle became a museum. East Germany used the palace as a college for kindergarten teachers from 1952-1981. In 1993, it became a museum once again.
In 2023, Schloss Schwerin was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Comments
Post a Comment