Gråsten is a small town that is the summer residence of the Danish royal family. Although the castle cannot be visited, its gardens are open to tourists.
The history of the city is closely related to Gråsten Castle. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century by the Ahlenfeldt family and ruled it until the second half of the 19th century, when the area was annexed to Prussia. In 1920, after a plebiscite in Schleswig and the return of southern Jutland to Denmark, the castle was chosen as the summer residence of the Danish royal family. This was to emphasize the state's ties with the attached territory. The residence was given its present shape in 1935, after several years of reconstruction.
Gråsten Castle is currently the city's biggest attraction. It is surrounded by Gråsten Castle Garden and inside is Gråsten Castle Church. It is now used as a parish church. The park is open to visitors when the royal family is not in the residence.
In addition to Gråsten Castle, there is also a small By-Paper Museum. The surrounding area offers many nice places to walk and you can practice water sports on the nearby lake. Forfyr Rinkenæs lighthouse is a popular destination for walks, and there is also a golf course nearby.
