Güstrow: Castle, Art and Wildlife
Accommodation in Güstrow
Güstrow brings together significant architecture, works by Ernst Barlach and unique wildlife experiences. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose different points of focus: Would you like to explore Renaissance architecture, discover art at its various locations, or experience animals in a special setting? The North German Nativity Museum and public guided tours of the historic old town are also specific places to visit.
Castle and Art in Güstrow
Güstrow Castle is one of the most significant Renaissance castles in northern Europe. If you are interested in architecture and cultural history, you can make it one of the highlights of your stay. Ernst Barlach’s studio house, close to Güstrow’s Inselsee lake, offers a different perspective on art. The house still preserves traces of the sculptor, graphic artist and writer.
An extensive permanent exhibition at the studio house explores Barlach’s life and work. It traces his work from the first plaster models to the finished wooden sculptures and bronze figures. His sculpture “The Floating Figure” can also be seen in Güstrow Cathedral. If you would like to learn more about Barlach’s artistic work, you will find a range of subjects and works to include in your cultural itinerary.
The North German Nativity Museum offers a very different focus: it displays Christmas nativity scenes from around the world throughout the year. The collection includes around 700 nativity scenes from every continent. This variety makes a visit to the museum a cultural destination in its own right—whether your main interest is sculpture or nativity art.
Wildlife Park Experiences and Nature Aquarium
Wolves, bears, lynxes and wildcats live in the five-hectare Predator Habitat. At Wildpark-MV, visitors reach the animals through underground cave passages and along climbing trails through the treetops. The routes through the caves and canopy set this experience apart from simply observing the animal species: they take visitors through the Predator Habitat on different levels.
The AQUA Tunnel offers another distinct nature-focused experience. It is the largest nature aquarium in the north and is home to more than 15 native fish species. If you are interested in wildlife, you can consider this aquarium experience alongside encounters with the mammals in the Predator Habitat. The two attractions feature different animal groups and environments.
Historic Old Town and Guided Tours
Public guided tours of Güstrow’s historic old town start at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the Güstrow Information Centre. The set start time and meeting point give you a practical starting point for planning your day. If you would like to explore the old town as part of a guided tour, plan around one of the days of the week listed and this start time.
Güstrow offers a clear range of options when choosing what to focus on: the castle and studio house represent architecture and art; the nativity museum features Christmas nativity scenes from many parts of the world; and the Predator Habitat and AQUA Tunnel offer different wildlife experiences. A guided tour of the historic old town adds a guided city walk to the mix. This allows you to shape your stay around your interests without having to fit every subject into the same day.
If you would like to visit other destination pages, you can also find Amt Bützow-Land, Graal-Muritz, Satow, Lieblingshof, Amt Neubukow-Salzhaff, Teterow, Lütten Klein and Amt Carbäk here.
For the main travel overview: Rostock.
