Eutin Castle

Eutin Castle (Eutiner Schloss) is a four-winged brick palace on a moated island in the Großer Eutiner See in Schleswig-Holstein, in the region known as Holstein Switzerland. Once a residence of the prince-bishops of Lübeck and later a summer seat of the Dukes of Oldenburg, it is one of the state's most important courtly buildings. A palace museum, a landscape garden and a historic kitchen garden make it a good day-trip stop in northern Germany.

Getting there

Eutin sits in the Ostholstein district and has its own railway station on the regional network; check Deutsche Bahn for current connections. From the station, sources suggest roughly 10 to 20 minutes on foot to the castle, so confirm the route in a map app. If you drive, there are several car parks near the palace, including at the swimming pool, the Opernscheune and the Alter Bauhof, and parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays. Payment is in euros.

What makes it special

The complex grew from a medieval castle of the Lübeck prince-bishops, with a first chapel recorded in 1293, into a Baroque residence rebuilt between 1717 and 1727 after a fire in 1689. From 1773 it served as a summer residence of the Dukes of Oldenburg. After the monarchy ended in 1918 it became a museum, and the Stiftung Schloss Eutin has managed castle and gardens since 1992. The 1972 film Cabaret was shot here.

Inside and outside

• The palace museum with a portrait collection from the 16th to 19th centuries and ship models given by the Russian imperial family.
• The landscape garden, redesigned from 1788, with a round Sun Temple and a Chinese bridge.
• The historic kitchen garden and the Eutin Festival, held in the grounds since 1951.

The Stiftung offers 19 different guided tours according to its 2023 report, and a media guide is available through the Schloss Eutin app.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• Admission to the museum: adults EUR 10, reduced EUR 7 (EUR 8 from January 1, 2027), free for visitors under 18.
• Hours: March to June and September to December 23, Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; July and August daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; December 25 to January 31, Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
• Closed: February, December 24 and December 31. The gardens are closed overnight from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Practical tips

Allow one to two hours for the museum, longer with the gardens. The upper floor is not heated, so keep a jacket on in cooler months. The castle, the kitchen garden and the café-bistro are accessible for wheelchairs and walkers, and assistance dogs are welcome.