Schloss Wilhelmsthal
Rococo palace near Calden (1747–1761) with an almost completely preserved suite of rooms, a Gallery of Beauties and porcelain; visits by guided tour only.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Landgrave Wilhelm VIII of Hesse-Kassel had the pleasure and hunting palace Wilhelmsthal built between 1747 and 1761 as a “Maison de plaisance”. The design of the three-winged complex came from François de Cuvilliés; from 1756 Simon Louis du Ry led the construction. Still rooted in the late Baroque on the outside, the palace is considered a model example of the Rococo on the inside, with wall paneling and stucco by Johann August Nahl and Johann Michael Brühl.
The historic suite of rooms is almost completely preserved and shows how the landgrave and his successors used the house. The furnishings include French furniture, among others by Charles Cressent and the Roentgen workshop, East Asian porcelain, and around 70 paintings by Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder, including the so-called Schönheitengalerie (Gallery of Beauties). In 1762 a battle took place near Wilhelmsthal during the Seven Years' War; a mass grave of French soldiers in the park commemorates it.
Today Hessen Kassel Heritage operates the palace as a museum with princely apartments and a historic kitchen. The roughly 30-hectare park, which includes a grotto and the Warttum, an artificial ruin, is freely accessible all year round and has been part of the European Garden Network since 2009.
Highlights
- Almost completely preserved Rococo suite of rooms
- Gallery of Beauties with portraits by Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder
- French furniture, porcelain collection and precious fabrics
- Historic kitchen
- Palace park with grotto and Warttum, freely accessible
Permanent exhibition
- Rokoko-Schloss mit historischen Wohnräumen – Guided tour through apartments, salons and side rooms with splendid fabrics, rocaille ornaments, furniture, porcelain and the Gallery of Beauties.
- Operated by
- Hessen Kassel Heritage
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Students, trainees, severely disabled people (from degree of disability GdB 50), volunteers in federal service, unemployed people and recipients of Bürgergeld (citizen's allowance), groups of 10 or more people, and holders of, among others, KasselCard, artcard, Ehrenamtscard, Juleica and the NVV annual pass; also when visiting a second Hessen Kassel Heritage site on the same day |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people under 18, as well as pupils, are admitted free. |
| Seniors | –No separate senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5companion free · From GdB 50. |
| Students & apprentices | €5Students of the University of Kassel are admitted free. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €5 per personReduced admission for groups; children's and youth groups, including 2 accompanying adults, are admitted free. |
| Families | –No family ticket; children under 18 are free. |
| Annual pass Hessen Kassel Heritage | €60Valid for all sites of Hessen Kassel Heritage. |
Free admission among others with Meine Card+ and Auszeit Card+, for refugees, and for members of ICOM, the German Museums Association and the Museumsverband Hessen. The palace park is free to access.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to Hessen Kassel Heritage, the palace is not barrier-free (no wheelchair access, no elevator); assistance dogs are allowed. The palace park is suitable for wheelchairs, and parking spaces for people with limited mobility are available.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Kids’ birthday parties
Children's birthday party “Pulverdampf und Puderquaste” (ages 5–10, 1.5 hours, €85, maximum 12 children and 2 adults) with a palace tour and craft activities, bookable through the visitor service.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Calden-Wilhelmsthal
NVV bus 47 to the Calden-Wilhelmsthal stop; the line connects to tram 1 (Vellmar-Nord) and to the stations Espenau-Mönchehof and Calden-Fürstenwald.
By car
Parking available
Visitor car park at the palace (parking rules on the Hessen Kassel Heritage website); parking spaces for people with limited mobility are available.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits only as part of the guided tours that start on the hour. Group tours and other offers through the visitor service (Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00, +49 561 31680-123, service@heritage-kassel.de). |
