Wörlitz Castle and Park
The most popular and best-known complex of the Garden Kingdom is probably the Wörlitz Park with the beautiful Wörlitz Castle. Here you can expect a beautiful landscape garden, which was created at the end of the 18th century and is one of the earliest and most important landscape gardens in the English style on the European mainland. Covering an area of 112 hectares, the total of five gardens nestle around the picturesque Lake Wörlitz. With idyllic lakes, bridges, ferries and even gondolas, each visitor can discover the park in their own way. The fairytale-like Wörlitz Palace stands out from other Central European palace buildings of its time for its simplicity and elegance, and is considered the founding building of the classicist architectural style in Germany. The rich interior of the palace is almost completely preserved from the time of construction. Let us introduce you to the fascinating history of Wörlitz Castle during a guided tour and immerse yourself in the time at the end of the 18th century.
Gondola rides and ferries in Wörlitz Park
The Wörlitz grounds of the Garden Kingdom are permeated by the design element of water. Lakes, canals and classicist bridge architecture characterize the impressive landscape garden.
The best way to discover the special atmosphere of the Wörlitz Garden Kingdom is on the waterways. Gliding gently along in a gondola like Prince Franz himself once did is an extraordinary experience. Gondola tours are offered during the day as well as evening gondola tours with culinary delights. Listen to lakeside concerts in the lap of a romantic gondola or enjoy delicious coffee, cake and various dishes.
A tour of the rooms of the castle
The impressive 18th-century interior of the palace is almost completely preserved in its original state and displays art and collectibles from the European travels of the prince and his master builder Erdmannsdorff. During a tour, admire antique sculptures from Rome, Pompeii and Herculaneum, valuable Italian and Dutch paintings, precious Neoclassical stuccowork and wall paintings, and English ceramics. In addition, you will find an impressive exhibition in the castle with exhibits over 250 years old, which Prince Franz received as a gift from two German circumnavigators from Germany. These include the costume of a Tahitian dancer, two maces from Tonga and an axe from New Zealand.
The Wörlitz grounds of the Garden Kingdom are permeated by the design element of water. Lakes, canals and classicist bridge architecture characterize the impressive landscape garden.
The best way to discover the special atmosphere of the Wörlitz Garden Kingdom is on the waterways. Gliding gently along in a gondola like Prince Franz himself once did is an extraordinary experience. Gondola tours are offered during the day as well as evening gondola tours with culinary delights. Listen to lakeside concerts in the lap of a romantic gondola or enjoy delicious coffee, cake and various dishes.
A piece of Italy in the middle of Saxony-Anhalt! On the island of Stein you will find yourself in the flair of the Gulf of Naples and can admire a replica of Vesuvius. Rock passages, grottos, a loumbarium and an ancient theater round off the Neapolitan flair. In the summer months, the southern Italian countryside is transformed into an enchanting backdrop for theater performances, concerts and open-air cinema. Villa Hamilton, named after the diplomat Sir William Hamilton, is harmoniously nestled in the Mediterranean rocky landscape.
The Gothic House is one of the first neo-Gothic buildings in Europe and displays Prince Franz's collection. Inspired by his travels to England and Italy, the Gothic House was created as Prince Franz's private retreat. In the Gothic House you can see for yourself how the prince once enjoyed his life. The medieval furnishings of the house as well as the art collection are still preserved and will transport you back to the time of the prince. Swiss stained glass from the 16th and 17th centuries is on display, as well as valuable paintings from Old German and Old Dutch painting. You can also admire paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Younger.
Oranienbaum Castle and Park
The largely Dutch baroque Oranienbaum was redesigned in Chinese style by Prince Franz. In the idyllic island garden, you can dream of distant cultures - it is one of the few remaining English-Chinese gardens from the 18th century. As you stroll around the park, you'll soon find one of the longest orangeries in Europe on the southern edge, which is still used to house citrus fruits today.
Luisium Palace and Garden
The country estate of Princess Louise of Anhalt-Dessau, located in Dessau-Waldersee, is considered the most idyllic park in the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom. Prince Franz of Anhalt-Dessau had the small country house built as a private residence for his wife, who also gave her name to the park. The palace is surrounded by an English landscape garden, in the natural landscape of which the garden architectures the Serpent House, the Orangery, the Gate Houses and the Ruin Arch fit in. The Luisium can be visited as part of a one-hour guided tour.
Georgium Castle and Park
Along with the Wörlitz grounds, the Georgium is the most important English-style landscape park in the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom in terms of art history. Similar to the parks in Wörlitz, here you will find numerous classicist and romanticizing park buildings and sculptures that are harmoniously embedded in nature. The transition from the artistically designed landscape garden to the natural landscape is particularly well understood here. At the Elbe pavilion as well as at the artificial ruin Wallwitzburg you have a unique view over the entire garden landscape along the Elbe.
The park is freely accessible all year round. The castle is currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Mosigkau Castle and Garden
The rococo palace is today referred to as the "little Sanssouci". It is one of the last largely preserved rococo ensembles in central Germany.
During a tour, you will experience the rooms with partially preserved original furnishings. We would especially like to recommend the gallery hall, where you will find a unique baroque hanging of important paintings in recessed wall panels. The palace's pleasure garden is adorned with summery, colorful flowers and exotic potted plants and invites you to take a discovery tour through the palace's own maze. In the two orangeries the potted plants, some of which are centuries old, are kept.
Großkühnau castle and park
The elongated narrow garden was laid out along the southern shore of Lake Kühnau with its artificial islands and forms the western end of the Garden Kingdom.
A highlight of the grounds is the hilltop Weinberg-Schlösschen, a neoclassical structure reminiscent of a vacation in Italy. Small-scale architecture and sculptures complete the architectural picture of the garden. The classicist Kühnau Castle and the church are also included in the design.
The Kühnau park is open all year round. The castle is not open to the public.