Museum Schloss Burg

About the museum

Around 1130, Count Adolf II of Berg had the Neuenberge castle built as the new ancestral seat of his family. Under Engelbert II, Archbishop of Cologne and Count of Berg, it was expanded in the 13th century into a major court castle with a palas (main hall building), knights' hall, Kemenate (heated women's chambers) and chapel. With the rise of Düsseldorf as a residence city, it later lost importance; it served as a hunting and festive palace, and in the 16th century as a dowager residence. After the Thirty Years' War it was partly destroyed; after 1807 it had no administrative function. In the 19th century it was used commercially, in 1849 the roof was removed and the ruin was used as a quarry.

In 1887 an association was founded to save the ruin, later known as the Schlossbauverein (castle building association). From 1890 the castle was rebuilt, mainly from donations and lottery proceeds. After completion of the palas, the Bergisches Museum (Bergisch Museum) was established in 1894; by 1919 the reconstruction was essentially complete. A fire in the roof structure in 1920 almost completely destroyed the collection; the damage had been repaired by 1923. After 1950, Schloss Burg became a tourist magnet with up to 160,000 guests a year.

From 2014 the complex was thoroughly renovated; the total cost was about €53 million. With the renovation of the main building completed in 2025, a new permanent exhibition was created, focusing on the Middle Ages and the castle's original use as a knights' castle and noble residence; VR scenes complement the tour. The sponsor is the Schlossbauverein Burg a. d. Wupper.

Highlights

• Knights' hall with murals on the history of the Counts and Dukes of Berg
• Keep and walkways with views over the Wupper valley
• Kemenate, chapel and ancestral gallery
• New permanent exhibition on the Middle Ages and castle life
• VR scenes of medieval life (VR goggles at the museum shop)
• Arrival by cable car from the Unterburg to the Oberburg

Permanent exhibition

• Neue Dauerausstellung Schloss Burg – The exhibition set up in 2025 after the renovation of the main building covers the Middle Ages, the castle as a knights' fortress and noble residence; VR scenes make medieval situations tangible.

Founded

1894

Operated by

Schlossbauverein Burg a/d Wupper e. V.

Director

Gregor Ahlmann

Admission & discounts

Tickets can be booked online in advance and shown at the entrance on a smartphone or printed out.

Accessibility

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

The exhibition in the main building (palas) is wheelchair-accessible, and an elevator is available there. The walkways and keep are not wheelchair-accessible; the historic building has uneven floors and narrow, partly irregular stairs. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family tours, a family treasure hunt and the annual knights' games are aimed at children. The "Kinderspur" (children's trail), a quiz on the permanent exhibition for preschool and primary school age, is available free at the visitor center; printable castle rallies are also available (Felix rally for children from age 4–5). Children's birthdays: €60 for the tour (about 45 minutes, including admission for the birthday child and 2 adults), plus €3.50 per guest; one room costs €100 extra. Across from the castle in the Hofgarten is the playground "Schloss Kletterburg". Strollers cannot be taken on the tour.

Getting there & parking

Do not enter the postal address into your navigation device; enter "Wermelskirchener Str. 2, 42659 Solingen" instead, which leads directly to the car park. Connection to the A 1 (Wermelskirchen exit).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

Lockers and a parking area for strollers are in the visitor center, which also houses the museum shop. Cafés and restaurants are around the castle square, including Café Kalkum and the restaurant-café Zum Burgnarr; they have their own opening hours. Eating and drinking are not allowed in the exhibition rooms.

Events & venue rental

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

Up to 150 guests.

Available for rent are the knights' hall (up to about 150 people), the Kemenate (up to about 60), the chapel for Protestant or civil weddings, and a seminar room and a fireplace room in the Grabentor, each within regular opening hours. Catering within the site is handled exclusively by Team Gastronomie GmbH.

Plan your visit