Tag Archives: Benrath Palace

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The Schloss Foundation and Benrath Park

Schloss Benrath in Dusseldorf, Germany

Elena Klippert / Shutterstock.com

Also known as Benrath Palace, Schloss Benrath is a baroque-style palace that was completed in 1770, and holds such historic significance for the city of Düsseldorf that it has been submitted for UNESCO World Heritage designation. From exploring the actual palace and the museum within to touring the baroque square hunting park that surrounds it, this is a part of the city that history buffs will not want to miss.

The Main Palace
The Main Palace is where most visitors to Benrath Park start off at, and is a fantastic introduction to all that you will be seeing. The main palace contains historic furniture, art work, porcelain and more, all of which have been curated to give visitors an accurate impression of what court life would have been like in the later half of the 18th century. There are many exhibits on display to take a look at here, and guided tours are available if you would like a more in-depth knowledge of everything around you.

Other Museums in the Palace
Benrath Palace is home to two museums, one in its east wing and one in its west wing. The museum in the east wing is the Museum of European Garden Art, and is quite a unique one for the way in which it focuses solely on garden art from different parts of Europe. In the west wing, you will find the Natural History Museum, which is considered to be one of the best museums in the city. As you would expect, this museum focuses on natural history, but does this with a local spin, making it quite unique. There are also several exhibits here based on Benrath Park itself, which you will then be able to explore for yourself.

The Palace Park
Benrath Park is an oasis when it comes to greenery, and you will immediately notice the wide range of plants that live here. The park is divided into three distinct gardens, each with its own unique theme. From the French Garden with its spectacular orangery to the romantic Flower Garden, which used to be known as the English Garden, there is plenty to see here. As you make your way around the park, you will notice all of the lime tree avenues that surround you, and these are actually over 250 years old, and were created over time by training the growth of the trees. End you visit at the wooded section of Benrath Park, as the lush tree canopies provide a one-of-a-kind ecosystem for flowering plants to grow, as well as a number of colorful wildflowers, canals and ponds.

Benrath Palace was originally built as a hunting lodge and summer residence for Elector Carl Theodor, with its location being chosen due to its proximity to the River Rhine. While there were numerous garden palaces created in the 18th century, all over the world, Benrath Palace and its park is considered to be one of the most beautiful, and this is something that you will no doubt agree with once you pay it a visit for yourself.

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Museums of Benrath Palace

Benrath Palace, Germany

Situated in Benrath, a borough of Düsseldorf, Benrath Palace is a baroque-style palace that dates back to 1755, and, with such historic significance, has recently been proposed to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The palace was originally built as a summer residence and hunting lodge, and still retains a large portion of its original design and architecture. Consisting of five main buildings, three of these each housing a museum, and extensive gardens stretching out for more than 60 hectares, along with a large lake, Benrath Palace is most definitely worth a visit when in Düsseldorf.

Museum of European Garden History
Situated in the East Wing of Benrath Palace, the Museum of European Garden History occupies an area of over 2000 square meters. Considered to be quite a unique museum, the exhibits here are focused on garden history, with many of them dating back to medieval Europe. From the life-like sculptures to the incredible paintings, this is a great opportunity to view garden art throughout the years, and for those that want even more in-depth information, there are regular lectures and guided tours also held at the museum.

Natural History Museum
While many of the major national history museums around the world may feature exhibits from all over the world, the Natural History Museum at Benrath Palace has a local focus, with a special emphasis placed on the Lower Rhine Basin and the Lower Bergisch area. Situated in the West Wing of the palace, the exhibits at the museum showcase the local flora and fauna, beginning with a brief history of the Rhine, while also paying attention to the Rhein Fisheries. Another highlight for many geological buffs is the exhibit on the Rhine floodplain, which has been at the center of many debates over the years.

Museum Corps de Logis
Located in the main building of Benrath Palace, the Museum Corps de Logis is definitely one of the highlights of the site, as it depicts what court life would have been like in the second part of the 18th century. The unique ornaments, furniture and artwork placed around the building points towards the lifestyle of those that once lived here, while the architecture and interior design are spectacularly impressive.

In addition to its three museums, Benrath Palace is also home to the Palace Park, which is divided into three different gardens; the official garden, the private garden, and the bosquet, each authentically displaying what gardens in the 18th century would have been like. The parkland is also home to an animal park, which was transformed into a hunting ground when the palace was in use, and offers quite a romantic feel to the palace’s ambiance, especially with the way in which it is framed by trees that date back 250 years. Considered to be one of the most beautiful garden palaces that was created in this time period, Benrath Palace is a must-see for those visiting Düsseldorf for the first time, as it gives you the opportunity to soak up some of the city’s unique history, culture and heritage.