The history of Dluzek can be read through its diverse buildings: a Gothic branch church, a castle on the edge of a landscape park, and numerous historic residential and farm buildings offer different perspectives. This is a clear focus for planning your stay if you are interested in culture and architecture. The periods represented also differ: the church dates back to the 14th century, while more than 30 of the village’s houses date from the 19th century.

The Branch Church of the Nativity of Mary: Origins and Alterations

The Branch Church of the Nativity of Mary in Dluzek is a Gothic church dating from the 14th century. It faces east, has a single nave, and is built of stone and brick. Its construction history also includes a major alteration after 1752, when two walls of the presbytery collapsed. Its Gothic origins and later alteration mark different periods in the history of this building.

The church’s religious history also has a clearly defined period: from the Reformation until 1945, it belonged to the Protestants. During the renovation of the church tower and its dome in 1999, documents were discovered describing life in Dluzek from the 17th century through the 1920s. Alongside the building’s history, these records offer another perspective on the history of the village.

Dluzek Castle: Park, Vaults and Biography

Dluzek Castle was built in the 17th century and stands on the edge of a landscape park dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. The castle and park thus represent different periods. Cross vaults and barrel vaults with lunettes survive in the castle’s oldest ground-floor rooms. The building’s date and the specific surviving vaults describe different aspects of its history.

A biographical connection adds to the building’s history: Augusta Victoria was born on 22 October 1858 in the manor house at Dluzek. She was the daughter of the reigning Duke Frederick Christian August of Schleswig-Holstein and later became the wife of William II, German Emperor. This exact date and connection to Augusta Victoria add a personal historical dimension to the architectural history.

Residential and Farm Buildings in the Village

The story of Dluzek does not end with the church and castle. More than 30 houses in the village date from the 19th century; some were built as early as the beginning of that century. One example is a single-storey, brick-built house for four families dating from the mid-19th century. Its building type, material and number of storeys make it a specific example of residential architecture from that period.

The farm buildings also vary in form and roof type: a barn with a mansard roof, a stable with a gable roof, and a granary also covered with a gable roof date from the beginning of the 19th century. The farmyard also contains a lamus dating from the late 19th century. The buildings thus allow comparisons of different functions, roof types and periods within the 19th century.

Dluzek therefore offers several historical perspectives to explore: the church’s architectural and religious history, the castle’s vaults and biographical connection, and the village’s residential and farm buildings. The dates span the 14th century to the late 19th century; the church documents also describe life in Dluzek through the 1920s.

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