Schloss Kaarz

Schloss Kaarz is a manor house featuring neoclassical architecture and a distinctive tower-like pavilion, situated on an estate between Schwerin and Güstrow. The complex now operates as a hotel with dining facilities serving regional food and nearby access to golf facilities.

The estate was established in the 17th century and changed hands several times before being purchased in 1872 by Julius Hüniken, a Hamburg shipowner. Under the Hüniken family, the property developed into a significant agricultural operation with expanded grounds and structures.

The English landscape park here includes a small neo-Gothic chapel built by the von Bülow family and a neo-Renaissance mausoleum for the Hüniken family. These structures reveal how the estate owners expressed their faith and family identity through architecture within the grounds.

The castle is located in a rural area between two larger cities and is best reached by car, as public transport is limited in this region. The surroundings offer plenty of space for walking, especially in the park and along the estate pathways.

During World War II, the manor provided refuge for the Hüniken family from air raids before being occupied by the Red Army in April 1945. This dual role shows how the estate became caught in the upheaval that reshaped the region.