Friedrichsruh () is a district in the municipality of Aumühle, Herzogtum Lauenburg district,

Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein (; ; ; ; ; occasionally in English ''Sleswick-Holsatia'') is the Northern Germany, northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical Duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of S ...

, in northern

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. Friedrichsruh manor is known as a residence of the princely House of Bismarck, mainly of Chancellor

Otto von Bismarck Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (; born ''Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck''; 1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898) was a German statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany and served as ...

from 1871 onwards.

History

In the 18th century, the extended Sachsenwald forest in Saxe-Lauenburg east of

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

was a favoured hunting ground for Count Frederick of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1706–1781). In 1763 he had a lodge erected in the woods, named ''Friedrichsruh'' ("Frederick's Rest"), which upon his death changed hands several times. In the early 19th century, the premises were rebuilt as a country inn and guesthouse, which after the opening of the Hamburg-Berlin railway line running nearby became a popular destination for Hamburg citizens. After the

victory The term victory (from ) originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal duel, combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitutes a strategic vi ...

over

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and the German unification of 1871, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck received the Sachsenwald estates as a present from Emperor William I. Bismarck had the former inn restored as a manor house and retained the name of Friedrichsruh. After his death he was entombed in the Bismarck Mausoleum on the Schneckenberg hill, just outside Friedrichsruh, on 16 March 1899. Bismarck und Kaiser.jpg, Bismarck and Emperor William II in Friedrichsruh (1888) LJB9 - Bismarck.jpg, Bismarck receives the marching band of the Lauenburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 9 (1902) BismarckMausoleum.jpg, Bismarck Mausoleum Friedrichsruh In the last days of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, in 1945, Friedrichsruh manor was destroyed during a RAF raid due to the (false) rumor that

Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was a German Nazism, Nazi politician and military leader who was the 4th of the (Protection Squadron; SS), a leading member of the Nazi Party, and one of the most powerful p ...

was hiding there. Actually, it served as the headquarters of the Swedish White Buses rescue programme led by Folke Bernadotte, clearly visible by Red Cross markings on its roof. After the war, the premises were rebuilt at the behest of Otto Christian Archibald von Bismarck (1897–1975). His son, Prince Ferdinand von Bismarck, managed the estate until his death in 2013, while his wife Elisabeth beautified the park including greenhouses with butterflies. They received guests such as King

Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander (; Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967) is King of the Netherlands since 30 April 2013. Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht during the reign of his maternal grandmother, Queen Juliana, as the eldest ch ...

, a godson of Prince Ferdinand, his parents Prince Claus and Queen Beatrix, the kings

Carl XVI Gustaf Carl XVI Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus; born 30 April 1946) is King of Sweden. Having reigned since 1973, he is the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history. Carl Gustaf was born during the reign of his paternal great-grandfather, K ...

of Sweden and Juan Carlos I of Spain with their wives, as well as the

Duke Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...

and Duchess of WindsorDIE WELT, 19 Nov 2000
/ref> at Friedrichsruh. The German press reported that it is disputed if Prince Ferdinand left the estate to his third son Count Gregor von Bismarck-Schönhausen (b. 1964) due to his mental illness. Today the managed forest area of Sachsenwald amounts to about 6,000 hectares, of which 4,500 still belong to the House of Bismarck. The gardens with the butterfly houses are open to the public, as are the Bismarck Museum and the Bismarck Mausoleum. GateFriedrichsruh.jpg, Gate to the manor house OvB-StiftungFriedrichsruh.jpg, Otto-von-Bismarck Foundation Friedrichsruh Friedrichsruh-bismarck-museum-altes-landhaus.JPG, Bismarck-Museum Friedrichsruh Friedrichsruh, rose garden.jpg, Rose Garden Friedrichsruh-ML (49).JPG, Butterfly Garden Friedrichsruh-ML (53).JPG, Bridge in the park

References

External links

* {{Authority control Towns in Schleswig-Holstein