麻豆APP

Image by from

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Schwerin Castle

Schwerin Castle is located in the city of Schwerin, the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state, Germany. It is situated on an island in the city’s main lake, Lake Schwerin. For centuries, the castle was the home of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg and later Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Situated in a romantic spot on an island in Lake Schwerin, Schwerin Castle is one of the finest examples of historicism in Europe. Although its roots go back more than 1,000 years, the castle was brought to life in its current form with five wings when Frederick Francis II the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, ordered reconstruction work to be completed.

This romantic fairytale castle is reflected in the waters of Lake Schwerin in all its glory complete with countless towers, domes and wings. Frederick Francis II had the building converted into an impressive symbol of his dynasty back in 1857. Continue reading for the top 10 remarkable facts about Schwerin Castle.

1. Schwerin Castle is Located on an Island on a Lake and City with the Same Name

Image by from

Schwerin Castle is an incredible structure located on a small lake island in the southwestern part of Lake Schwerin. This lake is located just east of the city of Schwerin in the northern part of Germany. This city is the capital and second-largest city of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the utmost northeastern state in Germany. The city has nearly 100,000 inhabitants and only Rostock, with a population of 200,000 inhabitants, is larger.

Schwerin has been an important city in the region since the Middle Ages as it served as the seat of the grand dukes of Mecklenburg since the 12th century. This historic region in northern Germany was transformed into the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after World War II in 1945.

2.  Schwerin Castle Gardens

Image by from

The castle garden was designed by Peter Joseph Lenne in the 1840s. It has a Nineteenth Century Mixed Style assembly of features, including a grotto, arcades, terraces and flights of steps. The older baroque garden was designed in 1848 by the French designer Jean Legeay and has been restored.

The picturesque gardens have additional features that include a grotto, arcades, terraces, and flights of steps. The older baroque garden was designed by the French designer Jean Legeay in 1848 and was restored in the later years.

The palace setting is as big of an attraction as the building itself. With the proximity of Lake Schwerin and the exquisitely well-manicured gardens.

3. Schwerin Castle was Built in the Neo-Renaissance Style of Architecture

Image by from

Schwerin Castle is a marvellous castle built in the Romantic style of Architecture. Some of Prussia鈥檚 finest visionary architects were commissioned to design the ultimate fairytale castle. The team of architects included Georg Adolf Demmler, Friedrich August St眉ler, and Gottfried Semper, all renowned architects at the time.

To gather inspiration, the Grand Duke sent Georg Adolf Demmler on a working holiday. The great architect then toured around France, visiting castles all over the country and sketching his ideas. Finally, on the banks of the River Loire, he came across the Chateau of Chambord, which ultimately became his inspiration.

Demmler鈥檚 design was heavily influenced by what he had seen in France. He had also incorporated many Renaissance-style features in the castle. This modern take on the late medieval past is popularly known as Neo-Renaissance architecture, and Schwerin Castle is one of its finest examples. Soon after its construction was completed in 1857, the castle came to be known as a masterpiece.

4.  Schwerin Castle Stand at the Site of fortresses dating back to the year 942

Several older fortresses have been located on the castle island, where Schwerin Castle now stands. The oldest traces date back to 942, though archaeologists are sure there have been people living in the area for thousands of years. In 1160 a fortress of Slavic tribes (the Obotrit tribe) has been conquered by an army of soldiers commanded by the famous medieval lord Heinrich der L枚we, duke of Bavaria and Saxony. 1160, therefore, became the official founding date of Schwerin.

As a whole, the Castle of Schwerin is several hundred years old. When it had been built and restored in the 19th century using parts of an older castle especially those dating from the Renaissance were integrated into the new building. Newer parts like the famous big tower, the golden dome and the front portal date from 1847 to 1857.

5. Schwerin Castle was Commissioned by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II

Image by Franz Robert Richard Brendamour from

Schwerin Castle was built between 1847 and 1857 by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The court of the Grand duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin moved into the castle in May 1857.  Schwerin Castle has been designed in most parts by Georg Adolf Demmler.  

Demmler was an architect that was a member of the society around world-famous Prussian master builders Semper, St眉ler and Schinkel.

Semper (who built the world-famous Semper Opera in Dresden) was the one who designed the big tower of Schwerin castle, while St眉ler is in many parts the architect of the facade that the castle of Schwerin shows towards the city.

6. Schwerin Castle Is the 鈥楬aunted鈥� Neuschwanstein of The North

Image by from

Schwerin Castle (Schweriner Schloss) has been compared to the iconic, world-famous castle of Mad King Ludwig, Neuschwanstein (or, the Swan Castle.) Surely, there can be no higher honour for a German castle than that! But the Castle is also famous for another reason.

Legends say that Schwerin Castle is haunted by a pint-sized ghost named 鈥渓ittle Peterman鈥� a friendly spirit who is dressed in 17th-century clothes and carries on his 鈥減erson鈥� many sets of keys. This ghost wanders through the underground halls, unlocking doors and protecting against any intruders.鈥楲ittle Peterman鈥� has become quite an attraction for visiting the castle.

7. The City of Schwerin and the Castle were Established at the Same Time

Image by from

The Germanic peoples gradually conquered the Slav tribes that lived in this region and they recognized the strategic location of the lake island.

The first Germanic castle on the island was constructed during the reign of Henry the Lion (1129鈥�1195). It was built on the remains of the Slavic fort which was demolished by the Obotrites themselves.

The Slavic tribes were permanently defeated in 1160 and the Germanic fort was constructed shortly after. The city of Schwerin was established in the same year and became one of the most important cities in the region.

8. Schwerin has Been used as the Seat of Parliament and other functions鈥�.

Image by from

In 1913, around a third of the palace was destroyed in a fire and reconstruction was still in process when the revolution of 1918 resulted in the Grand Duke being abdicated. The castle underwent another set of renovations after it was taken over by the German state in 1918.

Following its period as a museum, it became the seat of the state parliament in 1948, and then a college for kindergarten teachers between 1952 and 1981. Some rooms were used as an art museum from around 1974, with the Orangerie home to a technical museum from 1961.

After the reign of the Granddukes ended in 1918 Schwerin Castle became state-owned. After that, there was a vivid history, where it had many uses. It has been a school for nursery school teachers, a hospital and housed several museums. After the German Reunification Schwerin Castle became the seat of the regional parliament. It is also open to visitors as Schwerin Castle Museum since 1974.

9. Schwerin Castle Cameo on “Kingsman: The Golden Circle”

Image by from

While the indoor scenes were done elsewhere, Schwerin Castle was shown in a scene of the movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle as well as in one of the movie trailers. You could get some beautiful views of Schwerin Castle鈥檚 magnificent front facade with its golden cupola and many towers reflecting in the lake at night.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a 2017 action spy comedy film directed by Matthew Vaughn and written by Jane Goldman and Vaughn. Based on the comic book series The Secret Service (later retitled Kingsman) by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. The film follows members of Kingsman needing to team up with their American counterpart, Statesman after the world is held hostage by Poppy Adams and her drug cartel, “The Golden Circle”.

10.  Schwerin Castle is the Seat of the Current Local Government

Image by from

Until about 100 years ago it has been the ducal residence of the Grand duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Today it is still the centre of power in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern because it is the seat of parliament.

Schwerin Castle is now both the seat of the local government and an art museum displaying pieces ranging from the ancient to the twentieth century. Some of the most important pieces at Schwerin鈥檚 museum are its 17th-century Dutch and Flemish paintings.

Practical Information

Address: Lenn茅stra脽e 1, 19053 Schwerin, Germanya

Schwerin Castle Opening Hours:

The Schwerin Castle is open daily from April to October, from 10:00 a.m until 6:00 p.m. In the winter months, the hours and days are slightly truncated. You can visit Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.