Ludwigslust Palace

Ludwigslust Palace was the principal residence of the Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1763 to 1837, after the court moved from Schwerin to this newly built palace. The white three-winged Baroque palace was built between 1724 and 1772 for Duke Christian Ludwig II, designed by architect Johann Joachim Busch. The palace facade is restrained compared to more ornate German Baroque palaces, with a central corps de logis, two side wings, and a mansard roof with dormer windows, all unified by the pale plaster finish. It sits at the end of a straight canal that runs through the town, creating a grand axial approach. The palace church, the Stadtkirche, stands as a free-standing building beside the palace, connected by a covered walkway. The churchs golden hall and organ case are masterpieces of northern German Rococo, with white and gold stucco decoration, a painted ceiling by Johann Heinrich Tischbein the Elder, and a richly carved organ case by Heinrich Andreas Contius. The palace interior includes the ducal apartments with original furnishings, a porcelain collection with Meissen and East Asian examples, and portrait paintings of the Mecklenburg-Schwerin dynasty. The surrounding park, the Ludwigsluster Kanal, and the small Baroque planned town make for a relaxed heritage stop. Ludwigslust is located between Schwerin and the Elbe, accessible by regional train.