Eutiner Schloss

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Its beginnings go back to the 12th century: around 1154, the bishops of Lübeck established an administrative estate on the Großer Eutiner See, which was expanded into a castle in the 13th century. From 1320, Eutin was the permanent residence of the bishops. With the election of a prince-bishop from the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp in 1586, the town became a princely residence, which grew into a closed four-wing complex by around 1640.

After a devastating fire in 1689, the prince-bishops had the palace rebuilt and, from 1716, remodeled in Baroque style by the Swedish master builder Rudolph Matthias Dallin; a French garden was laid out at the same time. After the Treaty of Tsarskoye Selo in 1773, the prince-bishops were also dukes of Oldenburg. From 1803, Eutin served as a summer residence where artists such as court painter Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein worked, and the Baroque garden gave way to an English landscape garden.

After the abdication in 1918, the palace remained in the possession of the grand ducal family and was partly opened to visitors; after 1945, refugees lived here until the early 1950s. In 1992, the family transferred the palace, large parts of the collection and the garden to the newly founded public-law foundation Stiftung Schloss Eutin. Following extensive restoration, the museum has been open again since 1997, and the Rittersaal (Knights' Hall) since 2006.

Today, the tour of the piano nobile shows the domestic culture of a prince-bishop's and grand ducal court with largely original furnishings. The collection includes an important portrait gallery of northern European and Russian royal houses, Tischbein's Homer cycle, ship models from the treasury of the tsars and a gold-embroidered antependium (altar frontal) from 1641.

Highlights

• Original living and state rooms such as the Rittersaal, Gobelin Room and Russia Cabinet
• Portrait gallery of northern European and Russian ruling houses
• Homer cycle by court painter Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein
• Ship models from the treasury of the Russian tsars
• Gold-embroidered antependium from 1641 from the palace chapel
• English landscape garden and kitchen garden with Baroque orangery – free to visit

Permanent exhibitions

• Museumsrundgang durch die Beletage – Restored living and state rooms of the prince-bishops and grand dukes with original furniture, tapestries, portraits and decorative arts, plus the palace chapel and the dining room, refurnished in 2022 with KPM porcelain.
• Die klangvolle Welt des Horns – The horn collection of Uwe Bartels and Manfred Hein on the third floor traces the development from the signal horn to the concert instrument.

Operated by

Stiftung Schloss Eutin

Director

Brigitta Herrmann

Visitors per year

approx. 40,522 (2024)

Admission & discounts

With an Ostholstein-Museum ticket €9. Free admission to the museum and special exhibitions for members of the Freundeskreis Schloss Eutin e.V. (friends' association) and MuseumsCard holders. Public guided tours: admission plus €4 per person; private palace tour (approx. 60 min.) €60 per group plus admission. Tickets only on site at the palace shop, no online sales; tours and events can be reserved by email or phone. Palace garden and kitchen garden free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The palace museum is fully wheelchair-accessible; an elevator leads to the museum floor, and the restrooms are accessible. Portable folding stools and upholstered benches in many rooms. The kitchen garden is level, though some paths between the beds may be too narrow for power wheelchairs. Accessible parking spaces opposite the Opernscheune. Assistance dogs allowed; other dogs only on a leash in the garden. Tours in plain language on request. The “Schatzsuche” (Treasure Hunt) children's birthday party is not accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Under “Junges Schloss” (Young Palace): family tours for children aged 3–6 (approx. 45 min.) and 6–10 (approx. 60 min.), palace and garden quiz trail with a small souvenir, and children's birthday parties “Fest bei Hofe” (Feast at Court) and “Schatzsuche” (Treasure Hunt) for 6- to 10-year-olds (the treasure hunt is not accessible). Free admission for children and teenagers.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

The Café & Bistro Schlossküche is currently closed while the foundation looks for a new leaseholder. Palace shop with ticket sales. Lockers (€1 deposit) for bags larger than letter size (A4), backpacks and umbrellas. Guest Wi-Fi in the entrance area.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 120 guests.

Civil, church and non-religious weddings. Rittersaal for celebrations of up to 80 people (Steinway grand piano), Strack Room for up to 24 and Round Tower Room for up to 8 guests, Old Kitchen for up to 50 people at tables or 60 for lectures, south terrace for receptions of up to 120 guests, plus the orangery and kitchen garden. All rooms also available for conferences and seminars; venue viewings by appointment.

Plan your visit