Differdange Castle
Differdange Esch-sur-Alzette Luxemburg
castle, chateau
Schloss Differdingen
Differdange Esch-sur-Alzette Luxemburg
castle, chateau
Differdange Castle, located on a hill in the centre of Differdange in southern Luxembourg, was built in 1577 although an earlier fortified castle of Differdange dates from around 1310
Das Schloss Differdingen ist ein Schloss in der gleichnamigen Gemeinde im SĂĽden Luxemburgs
Previous names
Differdange Castle, Château de Differdange, Schloss Differdingen
Description
Differdange Castle, located on a hill in the centre of Differdange in southern Luxembourg, was built in 1577 although an earlier fortified castle of Differdange dates from around 1310. Today's residential château is used by Miami University. History The first lord of Differdange Castle was Wilhelm, brother of the Lord of Soleuvre, who is mentioned in documents from 1310 when he owned a fortified castle. However, the lords of Differdange lasted only until the death of Wilhelm's grandson around the year 1400. When Soleuvre Castle burnt down in 1552, the owner Anna von Insenburg decided not to repair it but to build a Renaissance-style residential castle in Differdange serving both Soleuvre and Differdange. At the beginning of the 20th century, the castle came into the hands of the local steel industry ARBED who used it as a hotel and a restaurant for its staff until it became a Miami University campus in 1997. Architecture Differdange Castle is probably the earliest example in Luxembourg of a château built entirely in the Renaissance style. It was intended as a residence and a fortification with a moat and draw-bridge (now both removed) as well as loop-holes. It is constructed fully in accordance with the principles of Renaissance architecture, especially the use of the square both for the courtyard (15 by 15 metres) and the outer walls of the three buildings (30 by 30 metres) which surround it. The rectangular cross-framed windows are typical of the period. The octagonal towers which are slightly higher than the central building provide balance between the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The castle today Since 1997, the castle has been let to Miami University for use as its Miami University Dolibois European Center, a European teaching centre providing students with "a living history for their European experience". The center is named in honour of former American ambassador to Luxembourg, John E. Dolibois.
Das Schloss Differdingen ist ein Schloss in der gleichnamigen Gemeinde im Süden Luxemburgs. Es dient der Miami University als europäische Zweigstelle und beherbergt den John E. Dolibois European Campus. Geschichte Den Grundstein legte einer Quelle von 1310 zufolge, ein Bruder des Ritters von Zolwer, der an der Stelle des heutigen Schlosses eine Burg errichtete. 1400 war dessen Familie ausgestorben. Danach gab es verschiedene Besitzer, ehe die Burg 1552 ausbrannte. 1577 wurde das Gebäude durch Anne von Isembourg als Renaissance-Schloss neu errichtet. Dabei wurde auch ein Wassergraben angelegt und Schießscharten eingebaut. In den folgenden Jahrhunderten wechselte das Schloss wieder mehrmals den Besitz, ehe es Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts an die Familie de Cressac ging. Deren Erben verkauften das Schloss 1914 an die Deutsch-luxemburgische Bergwerks- und Hütten AG und ist seither im Besitz derer Gesellschaften, die die Differdinger Schmelz betreiben bzw. betrieben (Hadir, Arbed, Arcelor. Heute: Arcelor Mittal). Bereits von der Hadir wurde das Schloss zum Casino umgewandelt, um in ihm hohe Gäste zu empfangen. Seit 1997 wird das Schloss von der Miami University gemietet, die das Gelände als Zweigstelle und Campus nutzt.
Useful information
Free Free WC
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External links
Nearby castles