Schwetzingen Castle (Schloss Schwetzingen)
Schloß Mittelbau, Schwetzingen
The former summer residence of the Prince Elector Carl Theodor, Schwetzingen Castle (Schloss Schwetzingen) is one of Germany’s most magnificent Baroque palaces. Built by Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm in the late 17th century, the castle is best known for its landscaped gardens and idyllic cherry blossom orchards.
While it’s possible to explore the Schwetzingen Palace Gardens on a self-guided or guided tour, visits to the palace itself are by guided tour only. Join a tour to admire the Rococo-style Palace Theater, the oldest gallery theater in Europe, and explore the palace rooms decorated with 18th- and 19th-century furniture. Tours of Schwetzingen Palace are often combined with a visit to Heidelberg Castle and Old Town or wine tasting along the German Wine Road.
Separate admission tickets are available for the palace and gardens, and guided tours are available in English. Combination tickets include entrance to the nearby Mannheim Baroque Palace.
The gardens have plenty of shade, but you’ll still spend most of your time outdoors, so dress accordingly.
Facilities at the palace include restrooms and a terrace café.
There is barrier-free access to the palace gardens, and wheelchairs and folding chairs are available for guests. However, the palace itself is not fully accessible for wheelchairs.
Schwetzingen Castle is located in Schwetzingen in Baden-Württemberg, about 7 miles (10 kilometers) from Heidelberg or about a 15-minute drive. To arrive by public transport, take the train to Schwetzingen station, about a 10-minute walk to the palace.
The gardens are most enchanting in spring (March and April) when the pink cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the annual spectacle draws large crowds. The palace gardens are open to the public year-round, from 9am to 8pm (April through October) or 5pm (November through March), and the last entrance is 30 minutes before closing.
Listed as one of Rado’s Great Gardens of the World, Schwetzingen’s palace gardens include an English-style landscaped park, a French-style central parterre, and a Turkish Garden with its own mosque, all linked by tree-lined avenues and cherry blossom orchards. Designed by landscape artists Nicolas de Pigage and Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell, highlights include the Arborium Theodoricum, the Temple of Apollo, and the Italian-style Bathhouse.
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