Switching homes

 

© Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli

When Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume succeeds his father as Grand Duke on October 3, 2025, he will switch homes with his parents.

Guillaume and his family live in Schloss Fischbach, but after he becomes the new  Head of State, the new family residence will be Colmar Berg,   Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa currently live in Colmer Berg.  They will move back to Fischbach, the family home until Henri's father, Grand Duke Jean abdicated in Henri's favor on October 7, 2000.

Grand Duke Henri confirmed the Schlösser in an interview with the Belgian edition of Paris Match in September 2024.   Schloss Fischbach was Grand Duke Jean's home after his mother's abdication.

The Luxembourg Times confirmed in September 2024 that new Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie and their two sons, Charles and Francois will not be living in Colmar Berg.  A new "contemporary and family-friendly" home is under construction on the castle's grounds

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In a statement to the press, Guillaume said: "We want our children to grow up in an intimate family environment.  Therefore, with the agreement of the Grand Duke and the government, we are planning to build an annex on the grounds of the castle in Colmar-Berg."

The construction will be privately financed and "will be reserved for our family life,"  according to the Hereditary Grand Duke's statement.  

He added that the "official residence" will continue to be the Grand Duke's workplace, and where official receptions will be held.   Guillaume also said the Castle could be opened to the public "at certain times of the year."  

"We are convinced that this is the best possible way to combine our institutional obligations with our family life."

On January 8, 2025, the Luxembourg Times reported work has begun for Guillaume and Stephanie's new home.

Colmar-Berg was acquired by Willem II, King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1845.   His successor Willem III remodeled the castle "several times and designed it in the neo-Gothic style.

The Luxemburger Wort reported in 1887: Colmar-Berg "consists of four homesteads, a flour mill, ironworks (currently out of operation) and an agricultural  equipment factory in full swing, together with beautiful Berg Castle with its extensive park and gardens, which, as well well known, has the honour serving as the residence of the ruling couple during their stay in the Grand Duchy."

In 1887, King Willem of the Netherlands was also the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.  He was married to Princess Emma of Waldeck und Pyrmont.   Emma was his second wife, and the mother of his seven-year-old daughter, Princess Wilhelmina, the heiress presumptive.  Three years later, Wilhelmina succeeded her father as Queen of the Netherlands. A distant cousin,  Prince Adolph of Nassau inherited the Grand Duchy, which did not allow for female succession.  The following Adolph he purchased the Dutch sovereign's private Luxembourg estates, including Colmar-Berg. That same year Adolph's son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, and his wife, Marie-Anne, moved into the castle.  Their first child, Princess Marie-Adelheid was born in the castle in 1894.

After Guillaume IV's succession in 1905,  he had Colmar-Berg demolished and a new castle built.  The building was completed in 1911.  The Wort reported: "The old castle has disappeared without a trace. Today a huge new building rises up in its place."

The new castle also required an increase in staff.  "The number of court staff, including local employees, servants, and day labourers, will easily exceed one hundred," according to the Wort. 

Grand Duke Guillaume, Grand Duchess Marie Anne, and their six daughters, Marie Adeleid, Charlotte Hilda, Antonia, Elisabeth and Sophie, moved into the castle in September 1911.  Five months later, the Grand Duke died.  His eighteen-year-old daughter, Marie Adelheid succeeded as Grand Duchess.  In 1919, she abdicated in favor of her sister,  Charlotte.

Private collection of the Grand Ducal Family

Since 1934, the castle and estate have been the property of Luxembourg. During the Nazi occupation, the castle was used as a "national political education centre" for young Luxembourg girls.  The Nazis remodeled the castle and destroyed furniture and artwork.  They also expropriated artwork.  The castle was "completely looted and could no longer be used" due to structural changes made the year before. 

all six royal postcards  @Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection

Colmar-Berg's restoration began after Luxembourg's liberation in 1945, and Grand Duchess Charlotte and her family returned to the country.  Until restorations were complete, the Luxembourg Grand Ducal family lived in Schloss Fischbach.  In 1964, Charlotte abdicated in favor of her elder son, Jean.  He and Grand Duchess Charlotte and their five children moved into Colmar-Berg, the first members of the family to live in the Schloss since before the Second World War.

© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Guillaume and his four siblings lived with their parents in Schloss Fischbach until 2000 when Jean abdicated,  Now, a quarter of a century later,  Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa will spend their retirement in Schloss Fiscbach and the new Grand Duke and his family move in a new home on the Colmar-Berg estate.