When people think of Düsseldorf, often times the first things that come to mind are shopping on the Königsallee, the Altbier in the Altstadt, Karneval, Kirmes, you know, the classics. However, the first things that come to mind for many when thinking of Germany are Oktoberfest, castles, beer, and pretzels. So why can’t Düsseldorf have both?!
There are many small and beautiful castles in Düsseldorf that most people don’t even know about. I’m sure you’ve visited Schloss Benrath (the pink castle) a couple of times and perhaps even Schloss Eller or the Schlossturm in the Altstadt, but have you visited all 10 of these castles before? Why not pack a beer and pretzel picnic to celebrate Oktoberfest in a castle? Best of all worlds, right?! ?
Please note: Not all of these are open to the public, however, there’s no harm in enjoying the beauty from the outside!
Schloss Benrath
Schloss Benrath is often the one castle in Düsseldorf which we all know best, and there’s likely a good reason for that! Schloss Benrath is a perfect place for the whole family. They host workshops, tours, readings, and events for both young and old. It is also home of the Natural History Museum and is a great location for concerts, photo shootings, weddings, parties, and more. The castle park is free to roam through and absolutely stunning in the spring and summer months.
Schloss Heltorf
The Heltorf Castle is owned by the family of the Counts von Spee who has also been operating a successful forestry business for more than 350 years. The Schlosspark Heltorf surrounding the castle is open to the public from May until October and costs 3 Euros entrance (prices are always subject to change).
Schloss Eller
Schloss Eller is a popular castle for event bookings, popularly by business owners and corporations in Düsseldorf. It is a 5-level castle offering tons of space for various events. However, what I find to be the most spectacular thing about this castle, is the park that surrounds it (especially in the springtime). The park is open to the public and is definitely worth exploring.
Schlossturm
The Schlossturm as many of you likely already know, is home to the SchifffahrtMuseum and the Laterne Café. The museum showcases years of shipping history along the Rhine and how life along the Rhine once was for locals and workers. The café is located at the top of the tower with a beautiful view of the old town and the Rhine River.
Schloss Kalkum
Schloss Kalkum is a beautiful castle under monumental protection that is located in the north of Düsseldorf. The rooms within the castle were being used by the NRW Ministry of Culture for receptions and events, but has recently been sold to a new investor who apparently intends to turn the castle into an academy for music and art. The castle park will still remain open to the public.
Schloss Garath
Schloss Garath is also known as The Management Centers Schloss Garath and is a business location for service providers and consulting agencies. Clients are welcome to invite their guests to enjoy the castle grounds. We’ve visited during a kids fair in the summer, so I know there are opportunities to check out the castle during events that are open to the public.
Schloss Mickeln
Schloss Mickeln is a beautiful little castle/guesthouse located in Himmelgeist close to the Rhine River. It is owned by the Heinrich Heine University and used as a conference center, event space and guest house for out of town professors.
Schloss Elbroich
Similar to Schloss Garath, Schloss Elbroich is also known as The Management Centers Schloss Elbroich and is actually now running as a business location for service providers and consulting agencies. They promote their castle grounds as a great place for their clients and their guests to enjoy exchanging ideas and hosting workshops.
Schloss Meierhof
Schloss Meierhof is an exclusive indoor and outdoor event location for all sorts of different events including courses, conferences, weddings, photoshoots, and birthday parties. The castle is hidden amidst the floodplain forests in Himmelgeist and offers a beautiful rustic vibe for all events.
Schloss Jägerhof
Schloss Jägerhof is home to the Goethe-Museum and boasts one of the largest Goethe archives in the world which includes original manuscripts, prints, paintings, books, and handicrafts. Not far from the museum is the beautiful Hofgarten where you can stroll around the whole day long.
