Wasmer Palais

The Wasmer Palace is a Baroque city palace in Glückstadt, Schleswig-Holstein. Alongside the Brockdorff Palace, it is one of the most significant secular buildings in the city.

The palace was built in sections from 1700 to 1728 as a residence for the councilors Conrad von Wasmer (1627-1705) and Jacob Johann von Wasmer (1671-1741). In 1752, it was auctioned for Frederick V and designated as the seat of the government chancellery, which had been housed in the Quasi non Possidentes Palace since 1700. An apartment was set up in the Wasmer Palace for possible stays of members of the Danish royal family in Glückstadt, as the dilapidated Glückstadt Castle had already been demolished in 1710. In 1806, the house accommodated the Holstein Higher Regional Court, the highest administrative and judicial authority in the state. In the course of the Coalition Wars and after the Second Battle of Copenhagen, Denmark declared war on England here – the seat of the highest Danish authority still intact at the time – on October 31, 1807. In 1876, the palace became a boys' school.

Today, the historic building houses the local adult education center. Due to its use, it is not open to visitors but can occasionally be visited as part of regular city tours.

Construction History

The Wasmer Palace is a three-winged, plastered brick building. The central main wing is slightly older than the side wings, which enclose the small courtyard of honor. The portal is adorned with a coat of arms cartouche of the builder. The interior of the house was decorated from 1728 to 1729 by the Lugano stucco artist Andrea Maini in the Louis-quatorze style; the most important room in the house is the large ballroom on the upper floor.

In recent years, the Wasmer Palace increasingly required renovation. Damage to the facade was recorded, and among other things, fungal infestation was detected. Since 2008, a comprehensive restoration of the building has taken place. The estimated costs of €960,000 were borne by, among others, the city of Glückstadt, the state of Schleswig-Holstein, and the monument protection office. The work was completed in 2009.