Benrath Palace

Benrath Palace (Schloss Benrath) in southern Düsseldorf is a pink late-baroque pleasure palace built between 1755 and 1771 for Elector Palatine Karl Theodor by his court architect Nicolas de Pigage. Together with its wings, a long reflecting pond, and an enormous park, it forms one of the finest palace ensembles in the Rhineland. It is an easy and rewarding half-day trip from central Düsseldorf or Cologne.

History and architecture

Karl Theodor, who ruled from Mannheim and Schwetzingen, wanted a summer and hunting retreat in his Lower Rhine territories. He had an older palace demolished and a new one built a short distance to the north. The design is a clever piece of understatement: from outside, the main building looks like a single story, but behind the facade are around 80 rooms on four levels, two hidden courtyards, and seven staircases. Because the palace survived World War II with little damage, its parquet floors, stucco, and ceiling paintings are remarkably well preserved.

Things to do at Benrath Palace

• Tour the Corps de Logis, the main building, with its entrance hall, domed hall overlooking the pond, and rose-colored garden hall, furnished with period furniture, clocks, porcelain, and textile wallpapers.
• Visit the Museum of Garden Art in the east wing, dedicated to European garden history.
• Explore the Natural History Museum in the west wing.
• Walk the palace park, about 61 hectares, with the 470-meter reflecting pond, a formal French garden, an English-style garden, and a hunting forest that reaches the Rhine.

Plan two to three hours for the museums, plus extra time for the park.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the main building and both museums are open:

• Monday and Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday: closed
• Friday: 2 to 5 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets are sold online or at the museum shop, not at the individual museums; check current prices in the online ticket shop before you go. The park is free and open year-round. A long-term restoration program is underway, so some areas may be affected.

How to get to Benrath Palace

From Düsseldorf's city center, take light rail line U72 to the "Schloss Benrath" stop right in front of the palace. Alternatively, take the S6, RE1, or RE5 to Düsseldorf-Benrath station and walk about 10 minutes; regional trains are covered by the Deutschlandticket. Düsseldorf Airport is the nearest international airport, and Cologne is about half an hour away by regional train. Drivers can park in several public lots around the park.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. Benrath combines elegant interiors with one of the region's loveliest parks, and it is much quieter than Germany's big-name palaces. Accessibility is limited: there is a step at the main entrance and the upper floor is reached only by stairs, though the Museum of Garden Art has an elevator. Dogs are allowed in the park on a leash.

Nearby

• Benrath Rhine promenade, just beyond the park.
• Düsseldorf Old Town and the Rhine embankment, reachable on the U72.
• Jägerhof Palace, home of the Goethe Museum in Düsseldorf's Hofgarten.