Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Schloss Gottorf

About the museum

The museum's roots lie in Kiel: in 1875 the Thaulow-Museum was established there from the applied arts collection of the collector Gustav Ferdinand Thaulow. Under changing directors, new collection focuses were continually added. After the Second World War the holdings were brought to Schleswig, where the museum has been housed in Schloss Gottorf since 1948 as the Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte. Since 1998 it has belonged to the Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen, together with the Archäologisches Landesmuseum on the same castle island.

The collection comprises around 120,000 objects from the Middle Ages to the present, from church art to furniture and applied arts to painting. Since 1995 the collection of the Stiftung Rolf Horn, with a focus on Expressionism, has been housed in the converted former military stable of the castle, today the Galerie der Moderne. Around the castle, the sculpture park features more than 50 works from the late 19th century to today. A little further away are the re-created Baroque Neuwerkgarten and the Globushaus with a walk-in replica of the 17th-century Gottorf Globe.

On August 31, 2025, the castle closed for extensive renovation and the redesign of the permanent exhibitions; reopening is planned for 2029. Until then the museum is showing its holdings and special exhibitions in the buildings around the castle.

Highlights

• Galerie der Moderne with around 350 works, focus on Expressionism and Brücke
• Works by Emil Nolde, Ernst Barlach and Christian Rohlfs
• Sculpture park with more than 50 works
• Walk-in replica of the Gottorf Globe in the Baroque Neuwerkgarten
• Collection of around 120,000 objects from the Middle Ages to today

Permanent exhibitions

• Galerie der Moderne – Around 350 works of the 20th and 21st centuries on about 1,800 square meters, many from the Stiftung Rolf Horn, with a focus on Brücke Expressionism and northern German artists.
• Skulpturenpark – More than 50 figurative and abstract sculptures from 1889 to 2013 around the castle, including works by Hartung, Heiliger and Abakanowicz.
• Gottorfer Globus und Barockgarten – Walk-in replica of the Baroque giant globe, considered an early planetarium, in the restored Neuwerkgarten with its own season.

Founded

1880

Operated by

Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen Schloss Gottorf

Director

Dr. Thorsten Sadowsky

Admission & discounts

The day ticket Galerie der Moderne is the one entered. With a Gottorf ticket, admission to the Museum Silkeborg (Denmark), where the Gottorf bog bodies are currently on display, is free. Museum vouchers of the state museums are valid for admission, tours and the shop.

Accessibility

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

Most exhibitions are accessible by elevator, though a few rooms are not; inquiries to visitor services (tel. 04621 813222). Information in plain language and explanations in German Sign Language on the website. The Globushaus and Baroque garden are about 800 m away; the path partly leads along sandy paths with a slight incline.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The Education & Outreach department offers programs for children, teenagers and families as well as children's birthday parties in the museums on Museum Island. Children up to and including age 6 have free admission.

Getting there & parking

By car from the south via the A 7 to Schleswig/Jagel, then B 77; from the north to Schuby, then B 201 and B 76.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Castle café in the castle cellar (Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00), run by the Schleswiger Werkstätten, with coffee, cold drinks, cake and snacks. Museum shop, also online.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit