Ludwigslust – Baroque, Palace Park and Nature

Palace Park and Baroque Design

The palace park covers about 120 hectares. Meadows and bodies of water shape the landscape, along with old and rare trees and ornamental shrubs. The extensive walking routes lead through a landscaped park, whose water features are part of the Baroque design. The park was laid out from 1731 to 1735. A 28 km-long canal, built from 1756 to 1760, supplies water to the fountains and cascades in front of the palace. The different construction dates offer insight into the development of these features, without suggesting that the park and canal were created at the same time.

Ludwigslust Palace was the former residence and is the centrepiece of the town’s late Baroque layout. The palace square is home to the cascades, created from sandstone between 1780 and 1785 to designs by Bohemian sculptor Rudolf Kaplunger. A sightline runs from them past the palace to the town church. Those interested in architecture and urban design will find several interconnected design elements here, which differ in their function and period of origin.

Art, the Town Church and Natural Surroundings

The museum in Ludwigslust Palace features rooms displaying 18th-century art. Another striking work of art can be found in the town church: the approximately 350 m² altarpiece “The Adoration of the Shepherds” is considered the largest altarpiece in Europe. The art in the palace museum and the large-scale painting thus offer two distinct cultural highlights in the town.

Natureum Ludwigslust is the only natural history museum in West Mecklenburg and is run on a voluntary basis by an association. It is directly adjacent to the “Schlosspark Ludwigslust” FFH site. Events for adults and children explore topics related to local nature. If you have a particular visit date in mind, it is advisable to get in touch in advance: during the season from April to October, Natureum aims to ensure volunteer-run opening hours from 10 am to 3 pm on weekends and public holidays.

Crafts, Brewing Culture and a Cycling Tour

At Palais Bülow, visitors can learn more about the tradition of papier-mâché manufacturing and try their hand at making souvenirs. Tours about aristocratic domestic culture in Ludwigslust are available there by prior arrangement. This offers two distinct ways to engage: a hands-on introduction to a craft and an exploration of historic domestic culture.

Ludwigslust Brewery also requires advance booking: tours of the brewery and beer tastings are offered by appointment. It produces artisan brewing specialities. Travellers who like to add a special-interest stop to their cultural itinerary can consider this alongside the offerings at Palais Bülow.

The Raseneisenstein Village Tour is described as a day trip for experienced cyclists. Combining cultural and nature experiences, it runs, for example, from Ludwigslust or Redefin through the heart of the Griese Gegend bog ironstone cultural landscape. The tour is explicitly aimed at experienced cyclists; it therefore differs from a walk in the palace park both in format and in the level of cycling experience required.

If you would like to compare other destinations in the same directory, you can find Goldenstädt, Amt Wittenburg, Amt Plau Am See, Hagenow, Amt Ludwigslust-Land, Amt Boizenburg-Land, Amt Goldberg-Mildenitz and Amt Dömitz-Malliß here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ludwigslust-Parchim.