Granitz Hunting Lodge

Granitz Hunting Lodge (Jagdschloss Granitz) near Binz on the island of Rügen looks like a fairy-tale castle hidden in a beech forest: four crenellated corner towers, a slender central tower and pale pink walls. Built for the princes of Putbus in the 19th century, it's one of the most visited museums in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The big draw is the climb up a freestanding cast-iron spiral staircase to a rooftop platform with sweeping views over the island.

History of the lodge

The Putbus family owned the Granitz forest from 1472. Prince Wilhelm Malte I, who also built the elegant town of Putbus, commissioned a hunting lodge here in 1837, styled after the Renaissance castles of northern Italy. Several architects were involved, among them Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the leading Prussian architect of his era, who designed the 38-meter central tower added in 1844. The lodge was completed in 1846 and hosted royal guests including King Frederick William IV of Prussia, King Christian VIII of Denmark and Otto von Bismarck.

The family lost the property in the 20th century, first to the Nazi administration and then to East Germany's land reform after 1945, and much of the original furniture disappeared. A major restoration ran from 1983 to 1990, and today the state palace administration of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania runs it as a museum.

What to see

• The spiral staircase: 154 cast-iron steps wind up inside the central tower, a favorite photo subject.
• The viewing platform: at about 144 meters above sea level, it overlooks forests, the resort of Binz, the Baltic bays and, on clear days, the island of Usedom.
• Princely rooms furnished in 19th-century style, plus historic hunting rifles and a collection of deer trophies from around the world.
• Special exhibitions and summer events such as the castle festival.

Tickets and opening hours

Admission is €9 for adults and €7 reduced; visitors under 18 get in free. Public guided tours cost an extra €5. The lodge is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from May to September, daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in April and October, and Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November to March, with last entry 30 minutes before closing (as of October 2026). Exterior construction work is planned to continue until about mid-December 2026, so outdoor areas and access roads may be partly restricted.

How to get to Granitz Hunting Lodge

You can't drive up to the lodge. Park in Binz and ride the Jagdschlossexpress, a small road train, through the forest, or take the Rasender Roland narrow-gauge steam railway to the "Jagdschloss" stop and walk just under a kilometer uphill. Marked hiking trails also lead here from Binz and Sellin. Rügen is about a four-hour drive from Berlin; by rail, Deutsche Bahn trains run to Binz, where the Rasender Roland also stops.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you're staying in Binz or Sellin it's an easy and rewarding half-day trip. Allow one to two hours for the lodge and tower. In midsummer, arrive early, since the narrow staircase can create a line. The tower climb isn't wheelchair accessible and may challenge anyone with a fear of heights. There's food service with outdoor seating at the lodge.

Nearby

• Binz, Rügen's largest seaside resort, just a few kilometers north.
• Sellin Pier with its diving gondola, southeast of the forest.
• Prora, the vast Nazi-era seaside complex, now with a documentation center and a treetop walk.