Gottorf Castle

Gottorf Castle (Schloss Gottorf) in Schleswig is the former seat of the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorf and today the home of the Schleswig-Holstein State Museums. Its long white Baroque facade rises from an island at the head of the Schlei inlet, and nearby you can sit inside a working replica of the Gottorf Globe, often called the first planetarium in history. Note that the main castle building is closed for renovation, but the surrounding museum island remains open.

Where it is and how to get there

Schleswig lies in Germany's far north, about 50 km (30 miles) northwest of Kiel and roughly 120 km (75 miles) north of Hamburg. Regional trains link Hamburg and Kiel with Schleswig station, and the Deutschlandticket is valid on these routes. From the station, take a local bus or walk to the castle island. Drivers leave the A7 at the Schleswig/Schuby exit; free parking is available near the Globe House. A day trip from Hamburg is realistic, especially if you combine it with the Viking site of Hedeby a few miles away.

What is open during the renovation

Since August 31, 2025, most exhibition rooms inside the castle have been closed for a renovation expected to last about three years; no official reopening date has been announced. That means the castle chapel and the Stag Hall are currently off limits. Still open on the museum island:

• the Nydam Hall with the Nydam Boat, a 23-meter (75-foot) rowing ship from around AD 320
• the Gallery of Modern Art
• special exhibitions in the former riding hall, in 2026 including floral installations by Rebecca Louise Law
• the Gottorf Globe and Baroque Garden, open seasonally

A ducal court and a famous globe

Parts of the castle date back to the 13th century. From 1544 it served as the main residence of the Holstein-Gottorf dukes, who kept a glittering court here. The south wing, built between 1697 and 1703, gave the castle its Baroque appearance, and the State Museums moved in in 1948.

From 1637, Duke Frederick III created the terraced Neuwerk Garden, one of the earliest Baroque gardens north of the Alps. Its centerpiece was the giant Gottorf Globe, 3.1 meters (10 feet) across and built between 1650 and 1664 under the scholar Adam Olearius. Visitors sat inside while the painted night sky turned around them. Peter the Great acquired the original in 1714, and it remains in St. Petersburg. A faithful replica has stood in a new Globe House since 2005.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the museum island is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November 2, 2026; it is closed on Mondays. A combined museum island ticket costs €19 for adults, €16 reduced and €7 for children and teens, with children up to six free. The Globe House and Baroque Garden cost €10 and close for the winter after November 1, 2026. Children under six may not ride inside the globe. Dogs are not allowed in the Baroque Garden.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, even during the renovation, mainly for the Nydam Boat and the globe. Check the Globe's season before you go. Just southeast of town lies the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hedeby (Haithabu) with its Viking Museum, and Schleswig's old town offers St. Peter's Cathedral and the fishing quarter of Holm.