The museum at Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle contains a wide range of exciting stories that you can experience. Below you will get a brief overview of the castle's history, as well as what you can experience at the museum itself.
The story behind Sønderborg Castle - in brief
- Sønderborg Castle was originally a castle that was built around the year 1170, in a strategic position to be able to defend the country. Since then, it has played a role in several historical events.
- During the 1300s and 1500s, Søndreborg was expanded over time, and was changing under, respectively. Danish and Schleswig dominion.
Over time, a town grew up around the castle, which later came to be called Sønderborg. - From 1532 to 1549, the castle was used as a prison for the deposed Danish king Christian II.
- In 1550, King Christian III and Queen Dorothea began to rebuild the castle into a castle in the Renaissance style, with an accompanying castle church. This was one of the first Protestant chapels in the Nordics.
- Duke Hans the Younger took over the castle in 1571, but when the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein went bankrupt, the castle passed to the Danish crown.
- Afterwards, the castle functioned as, among other things, barracks, infantry barracks and dungeons during various wars.
- At the Reunification in 1920, the castle was sold to the Danish state.
The museum today
The history of Sønderjutland is still the starting point in the castle, but now with a focus on conveying it. You can learn about some of the most important events in Danish history such as the war in 1864, the First World War, and the Reunification in 1920. These are permanent exhibitions at the castle, but also only a small part of the museum exhibitions
The history you can experience at the museum also goes all the way back to the Southern Jutland Middle Ages, and upwards. You can move directly into different eras as you experience the dungeon, the knight's hall and the castle church.
Activities
You can go on a treasure hunt through the castle with the game MuseumsMysteriet. It features mischievous puzzles where you have to stop the master thief Heydenreich, who wants to steal the castle's priceless treasures. The game can be downloaded on iPhone and Android.
In addition, in the summer season you can also experience ring riding. The castle has a ringrider track built from a copper engraving that gives an image of what such a track could look like.
Riders dressed in medieval costumes compete on the track every Tuesday, and it's free to see the show. The show is organized in collaboration between the Museum at Sønderborg Castle, the Ringrider Museum and Sønderborg Tourist Office, as coordinator.
Handicapped access
The castle has disabled access, where you can get through their locked gate, you can make them aware of this when selling tickets.
If you are visiting the museum alone, you can contact the host, who can help with entrance tickets, opening the gate, as well as directions to the lift and disabled toilet etc.
The castle's ground floor has differences in level that can make it difficult to get around, but otherwise people with reduced mobility can get around the museum using the lift. This gives access to the 1st and 2nd floors, where you can see the exhibitions without any problems.
The museum has two wheelchairs and two walkers, which can be borrowed free of charge when visiting the museum. Remember to book before your visit.
There is free entry to the museum for companions with a companion card.
Opening hours
April-October: Mon-Sun
at 10-17
November-March: Tues-Sun
at 10-17
