When you come to the city of Glückstadt you should give thanks to King Christian IV. He was the Danish king (yeah, go figure) who created what’s known as “Luck City” on the marshlands of the Elbe River.
While Glückstadt is a thriving city in the far north of Germany, it has come a long way from its days as a whaling town and hocking its sugar, salt, and oil wares. Now, one of the biggest hits in town is a herring dish known as Glückstädter Matjes.
This modern day Glückstadt embraces its history; which is evident by the way it has taken care of its old buildings and palaces.
The Detlefsen Museum is housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city, the Bridge House was built in 1635, there’s the Wasmer and Brockdorff Palaces. And, the Aristocracy Palace right on the port doubled as a women’s prison during the 2nd World War.
On Glückstadt’s Marktplatz, there are (of course) more historical buildings including the town’s church which was built in 1618 and housed with art from many different centuries.
The Marktplatz is also where locals and visitors alike go to enjoy an opera under the stars or, any number of other events.
One of the most famous is the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. Every summer the entire federal state gets involved by putting on classical music concerts in all sorts of venues; from churches to castles, and even barns! Don’t balk at the barn thing, the music festival isn’t internationally famous for nothing! ;-)
Even if there isn’t a concert going on, visitors to Luck City will have enough to keep anyone busy. Being so close to the water and the North Sea, there’s fishing and sailing. But, for keeping your feet on terra firma, there’s beach volleyball, Nordic Walking trails, as well as regular old walking and biking paths (for which Glückstadt is on the Elbe Cycle Route).
Everyone who comes here really does need to thank King Christian, the Danish King who made this German city pretty darn awesome.
