Ahrensburg Palace

Ahrensburg Palace (Schloss Ahrensburg) is a white Renaissance moated palace in the Hunnau valley near Hamburg and one of the best-known manor houses in Schleswig-Holstein. Completed in 1585, it mirrors its green-capped turrets in the surrounding moat and sits inside a park. It is now a museum of historic interiors and an easy half-day trip for anyone visiting Hamburg.

Why it matters

Peter Rantzau had the manor and palace built in the Hunnau valley after inheriting the nearby castle Ahrensfelde in 1569. In 1759 the estate passed to Heinrich Carl Schimmelmann, who made part of his fortune in the transatlantic slave trade; the family held it for six generations until 1938. The palace has been a museum without interruption since 1955 and has been run by a foundation since 2002. Across from it you can still see the manor church and the Gottesbuden, almshouses that still provide housing today.

What to see

• The palace facade and moat: the classic photo spot, best from the bridge and the park.
• Museum rooms: historic living and reception rooms, with a staircase dating from 1765.
• Second-floor exhibition: painter Lars Möller's show "Wesentliches" runs until October 31, 2026; the floor then closes until May 2027, but there is a virtual tour online.
• The wider ensemble: palace church, almshouses, stables and water mill belong together historically.

A free audio guide or smartphone app (German, English, and one for children) leads you through the palace in about 60 minutes. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours with the park.

Tickets and hours (as of October 2026)

March 1 to October 31: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 1 to February 28: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open on public holidays; closed on Good Friday, December 24, 25 and 31, and January 1. Adults pay 9 EUR, reduced 6 EUR, children aged 4 to 14 pay 4 EUR. Family cards cost 13 EUR (one adult) or 22 EUR (two adults), each with up to three children.

Getting there

The palace is at Lübecker Straße 1, 22926 Ahrensburg, north of the town center. Ahrensburg has a railway station for regional and S-Bahn trains and two U1 subway stations. By car, leave the A 1 at the Ahrensburg exit; parking near the palace is limited, and the station has 360 spaces according to Deutsche Bahn.

Good to know

The palace is not wheelchair accessible: there are no elevators, only the historic staircase, and the restrooms are in the basement. Dogs are not allowed in the museum. Photography is allowed with a smartphone without flash.