Hamburg to Schwerin and Ludwigslust: Private day trip

This German fortress has a plethora of towers, domes, and wings. Completed in 1857, the castle symbolized the powerful dynasty of its founder, Friedrich Franz II. There are 653 intricately decorated rooms in the castle. Today, Schwerin Castle houses the parliamentarians from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state, as well as a museum highlighting the castle’s history. The museum area is open for visitors to explore and catch a glimpse of life of the former Grand Dukes who once lived there. Some of the most important pieces of Schwerin’s museum are its 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings. The fortress is surrounded by beautiful gardens, making it even more ethereal. In the summer, there is a cafe you can visit directly at the base of the main tower. In the winter, you can dine inside the castle!

The elaborate Baroque palace, located in the heart of this small town, was originally built as a hunting lodge, but later became the primary residence of Duke Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. In need of more space, the Duke commissioned Johann Joachim Busch to build a new, larger palace. The palace as it stands today, modelled after Busch’s noticeably French-inspired designs, was completed in 1776. Visitors may now enjoy a tour of the resulting structure and view rooms such as the Golden Hall-- a huge room containing golden Corinthian columns and crystal chandeliers below an ornately decorated ceiling. Interestingly, many of the wall and ceiling decorations found inside are made of papier mâché, known as “Ludwigslust board”. Visitors can also wander into the surrounding English-style gardens to stumble upon fountains, mausoleums, the Swiss House, and the Stone Bridge. Many claim that its surrounding properties are even more impressive than the palace itself!