Sønderborg Slot

About the museum

The castle has stood for about 800 years at the entrance to the Alssund; the outer walls and tower date from the Middle Ages, and the Drabantsalen is the only surviving medieval room. From 1532 to 1549 the deposed King Christian II was held prisoner here – though, according to the surviving account books, he was provided for in a manner befitting his rank. In the 1550s, Christian III and Queen Dorothea had the complex rebuilt into today's Renaissance castle with stair towers, Knights' Hall, and castle chapel; the chapel is regarded as the oldest surviving Renaissance room in the North. Their son Duke John the Younger, progenitor of today's Danish royal house, inherited the castle.

Later the complex served, among other things, as barracks. After the reunification of North Schleswig with Denmark in 1920, the Danish state acquired the castle from the Duke of Augustenborg, and in 1921 the museum for Als and Sundeved, founded in 1908, moved in. It was meant to show the history of the Duchy of Schleswig as the main museum of the region. During a restoration from 1964 to 1973, all exhibition rooms were redesigned.

Since 2006 the building has belonged to Museum Sønderjylland. The focus is on national history of the past 200 years from a South Jutland perspective: the Schleswig Wars, the period under German rule, the First World War, the referendum and reunification of 1920, and the borderland up to the present. In addition there are the princely chambers, castle kitchen, cannon emplacements, and family rooms.

Highlights

• Queen Dorothea's Chapel, the oldest surviving Renaissance room in the North
• Great Knights' Hall from the 16th century
• The story of Christian II's imprisonment (1532–1549)
• Exhibitions on the Schleswig Wars, the First World War, and reunification in 1920
• Interactive exhibition "100 år med Danmark" on borderland history since 1920
• Family rooms with a dress-up corner and puppet theater

Permanent exhibitions

• 100 år med Danmark: Sønderjylland siden Genforeningen – Five rooms on the third floor on borderland history from 1920 to the present: the occupation period, reconciliation, border trade and smuggling, and South Jutland traditions, with a cinema and interactive stations.
• Sønderjylland indtil 1920 – Exhibitions on the second floor about the dukes of Schleswig, the Schleswig Wars, the period under German rule, the First World War, and the referendum and reunification.
• Fyrstelige gemakker og slottets historie – Knights' Hall, Queen Dorothea's Chapel, castle kitchen, defensive works, and the story of Christian II's imprisonment.

Founded

1921

Operated by

Museum Sønderjylland

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the annual pass of Museum Sønderjylland (except for larger events). An admission ticket is required for the café.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The accessible entrance leads through a locked gate that staff will open on request. On the first floor there are level differences everywhere; an elevator serves the second and third floors, where the exhibitions are step-free. Two wheelchairs and two walkers can be borrowed free of charge with advance notice.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Two family rooms: in "Hertugens klædeskab" children can put on princely costumes, and in the "Børneværkstedet" there are coloring pages, books, games, and a puppet theater. Treasure hunt with the app "Museumsmysteriet," a photo station for your own soldier pictures, and holiday activities. Strollers are possible, baby changing area by the restrooms.

Getting there & parking

When Sønder Havnegade is closed, access to the castle parking lot is via Kongevej and Strandvejen. The Historiecenter Dybbøl Banke with Dybbøl Mølle is about 3 km away.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Café in the old castle kitchen with homemade cake (including sønderjysk brødtort) and small lunch dishes, in summer also in the castle courtyard; with an admission ticket only. Museum shop with specialist books on regional history.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit