Schwerin Residence Ensemble - today State Parliament

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Schwerin Residence Ensemble - After our first visit to the state capital, which was primarily devoted to Schwerin's old town, our second visit was more dedicated to the Schwerin Residence Palace, which has also been the seat of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania State Parliament since 1990.

Today, the Schwerin Residence Ensemble on the island is the result of a long development process. It and its surrounding gardens were the main venue for the 2009 Federal Garden Show and, as a historically unique ensemble, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List along with the other residence buildings on July 27, 2024.

The Schwerin Residence Ensemble - Tourist Attraction

It was actually clear to us that it would be better not to visit such a destination on the weekend when there would be hundreds of tourists. However, for our weekday visit, the use of the buildings as a state parliament was rather paradoxical, given the busy political activity that might make access impossible. A compromise that might be a good fit for a Saturday visit. So, early Saturday morning, we set off from our location at Lake Garda on the approximately 60-kilometer journey to Schwerin Residence Ensemble.

This time, we found the route we chose via Dubin am See surprisingly pleasant. It was a bit longer, but it led along and over Lake Schwerin, providing great views of the landscape. The search for a parking space then led us to the parking garage at the castle, almost opposite the island with the Schwerin Residence complex.

The imposing main portal after crossing the bridge

Since the monumental reconstruction of the castle between 1843 and 1857, the magnificent main portal has been connected to the square and Schlossstraße via a stone bridge, providing a permanent land connection to the castle. Two mighty horse tamers flank the head of the castle bridge at the Burgsee to the Schwerin Residence Ensemble, which is also used as a barrier when the flow of tourists becomes too great. We should experience this again on a future visit.

During the aforementioned massive reconstruction, old fortifications from the reign of Duke Johann Albrecht I were integrated into the new palace, and the local Johann Albrecht style was deliberately adopted. Above all, the new palace also incorporated motifs from the French Château de Chambord, which the architect Georg A. Demmler and his colleague Hermann Willebrand discovered on a study trip.

Demmler and Willebrand – Master Builders of the Schwerin Residence Ensemble

Demmler and Willebrand shaped the Schwerin Residence Ensemble on behalf of the Grand Duke. According to their plans, both jointly and separately, the Marstall, Arsenal, Demmler's Residence, the Grand Ducal Hunting Lodge, the Court Gardener's Establishment, the Fridericianum Gymnasium, the College Building, the Museum Director's Villa, the Grand Ducal Steam Laundry, and the reconstruction of the Neustadt Palace were built in addition to the palace.

Thus, a multifaceted, differentiated residential ensemble emerged in 19th-century Schwerin, combining the functions of residence and representation, sacred and cultural buildings, administration, infrastructure, and military in an architectural ensemble with numerous interrelationships. This is complemented by the staging of the buildings of the Schwerin Residence Ensemble between the city and the open countryside. The center of this staging is the palace, whose island location, originally chosen for defensive purposes, was reinterpreted through reconstruction into an isolated island palace, which nevertheless shapes the city and surrounding landscape and connects with other buildings of the residential ensemble through visual connections.

Schwerin Palace can also be visited from the inside, but the crowds were already too large for us. In addition to the rooms used as the state parliament, it houses a palace museum displaying the state rooms and banqueting halls of the former grand dukes, as well as a porcelain collection. You can take part in guided tours of the palace museum and the palace church, or visit the palace gardens and castle gardens. Numerous events throughout the year highlight the cultural significance of the Schwerin Residence Ensemble:

Schwerin Palace Festival from May 15 to August 3, 2025.
Dragon Boat Festival from August 22 to 24, 2025.
Wine Festival from August 28 to 31, 2025.
Windros Festival from September 12 to 14, 2025.
Venetian Days from September 19 to 21, 2025.
Literature Days from October 10 to November 5, 2025.
Light Festival from October 17 to 19, 2025.
Culture Night from October 25, 2025. ...

Schwerin Palace Gardens – A Recommendation for Baroque Lovers

The Schwerin Palace Gardens, a must-see when sightseeing in Schwerin, are one of the most important Baroque gardens in Northern Germany. It was laid out in its current form from 1748 according to plans by Jean Laurent Legeay, but was then extensively redesigned several times in the 19th and 20th centuries and expanded into a multi-part park. With the Kreuzkanal reflecting the palace, the avenues, the bosquets, the picturesque large grotto, the pavilions and water features, the arcades, the hippodrome, and the lawn cascade, along with the Baroque sculptures by Balthasar Permoser, it offers the experience of a very special combination of architecture, nature, and art. Of course, the obligatory Garden Café is also included for relaxation!

The changes were realized between 1840 and 1852 according to Lenné's plans under the direction of court gardener Theodor Klett. His plans included preserving the existing Baroque garden. At the same time, significant expansions were planned. These included the new castle garden, the various kitchen gardens with indoor and outdoor buildings, the cascades, and the hippodrome. The south-sloping grounds extended to the shores of Lake Schwerin, Lake Ostorf, and Lake Faulen.

Arbors, green avenues, colourful flowerbeds, groves, sculptures, and the Kreuzkanal provide beautiful strolls in an idyllic setting. The castle and castle gardens were originally designed as a pleasure garden following the French model and have been expanded repeatedly over time.

But Take a trip yourself to the Schwerin Residence Ensemble.

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