Sunny Urban Sketching in Oldenburg

On Monday we finally saw some sunshine and after having a yucky doctor's appointment I was able to do a bit of urban sketching in Oldenburg. The settlement dates back as far as 8,500 BC and was first documented in 1100 AD, as Aldenburg. Burg in German is the word for castle and the palace,which you can see in my sketch, was built on the site of the original castle from the 12th century. The old castle was built to protect major trading routes between Bremen/ Westphalia and Frisia, and only parts of the moat remain.

 

The palace building now houses the Museum of Art and Culture, formerly it was the residency of the aristocracy of Oldenburg from 1667-1918. Oldenburg and the palace had a colourful past, fires, wars, a 100 years in the possession of the Danish crown and from 1810-1813 in French possession. 

I think a remnant of the Danish period are the extremely delicious and fattening Danish pastries that you get here, and yes I did eat one, but in my defence I did cycle into Oldenburg and back which is a distance of 20km and sketching certainly burns lots of calories! 

 

Back to the palace, it really should be rectangular, but infact there are only two wings, so there is only this impressive facade and a wing at right angles to it. A bit of a cheat really, but fire and lack of money left us with half a palace! The Schlossplatz here is used for markets, culinary events, concerts and festivals; seldom as empty as this but I really enjoyed the solitude and the glorious weather! Mmmmh, think I might need another pastry before I head off for home.