Gottorf Castle, Renaissance castle and museum complex in Schleswig, Germany.

Gottorf Castle has four uneven wings arranged around a central courtyard, creating a P-shaped floor plan with numerous galleries and period rooms inside. The building holds collections of medieval and Renaissance artwork, as well as local archaeological discoveries displayed throughout its spaces.

The castle started in 1161 as a bishop's residence and grew over the following centuries into a grand ducal seat. It remained the home of the Holstein-Gottorp ruling family until the start of the 18th century, when their influence began to shift.

The rooms display religious sculptures and artworks collected over centuries, showing how art and craftsmanship changed across different periods in this region. These pieces sit within the castle's own historic spaces, making the setting part of the experience.

The castle is straightforward to navigate, with clear paths through its different sections and galleries that are well marked. Tours are offered regularly and available in several languages to help visitors understand the collections and spaces.

Inside the castle sits the Gottorf Globe, a hollow sphere from the 17th century that represents one of the earliest attempts to mechanically show how the heavens move. This unusual device shows how people once tried to map out the cosmos.

• Location: Schleswig
• Address: Schloßinsel 1, 24837 Schleswig
• Phone: [phone]
• Website: https://schloss-gottorf.de
• GPS coordinates: 54.51168,9.54109
• Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:09