Castle · Schleswig · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Gottorf Castle in Schleswig

Gottorf Castle is a castle in Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein. This place has an audio tour of about 2 minutes, in English or Dutch. 4 of the 19 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km. Within 100 m you'll find a public toilet and a bench.

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The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Audio tour · Gottorf Castle

2:10

You're standing at Gottorf Castle in Schleswig, the most important cultural monument in the whole of Schleswig-Holstein. Take a look around first. The castle sits on a small island, surrounded by water. It's a natural island, in a little lake that was connected to the Schlei inlet until 1582, when it was dammed off.

Read and hear the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

1 / 10

Photo: Matthias Süßen · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

History of Schloss Gottorf

In 1161, the bishop Occo van Sleeswijk moved into a fortress on this site after his previous home had been destroyed. The castle was then repeatedly demolished, rebuilt and extended, including after a fire in 1492. Until 1582, the small lake around the islet had an open connection to the Schlei, after which it was dammed. Some of the stone for the ramparts came from demolished katholieke churches in the area. Under the duke Frederik III, the court became a cultural centre of Europe, and Adam Olearius built the Gottorfer Globus for him. Between 1697 and 1703, the architect Nicodemus Tessin de Jongere built the baroque palace you see today. After the Grote Noordse Oorlog, the troops of Peter de Grote took the globe to Rusland. Later the dukes had to leave, the interior disappeared and the castle became a barracks. After the Tweede Wereldoorlog it served for a few years as a refugee camp. Since 1948 it has been a museum.

Toilets, drinking water and benches nearby

Public toilets are close to Gottorf Castle in Schleswig, just 39 metres away by the Schlei. This public toilet is free to use, wheelchair accessible and has a baby changing table. There are 2 public toilets within 500 metres in total. Benches are plentiful too. The nearest bench is 107 metres away, also by the Schlei, and there are 17 benches within 500 metres. Drinking water is not listed on our map near Gottorf Castle, as there is no water point within 1 km. Bring enough water with you.

More to see near Gottorf Castle

After you have looked round the castle, you can visit more museums in Schleswig on foot. The Globushaus, also a museum, is 653 metres from the palace. The Stadtmuseum Schleswig is 703 metres away and is a museum about the town itself. You can therefore take a walk past 2 extra museums and see the surroundings of the castle on the way. On site, you can listen to an audio story about Schloss Gottorf in the Outdoor Pitstop app. It lasts 2 minutes.

Facilities near Gottorf Castle

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No water point, bike pump or honesty box within 1 km.

Well-known points of interest nearby

19 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 4 of the 19 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km.

Archaeological siteAudio story · 2 min

Danewerk · 6.5 km

Photo: Joachim Müllerchen (user Jom) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 deView the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Archaeological siteAudio story · 2 min

Hedeby · 2.8 km

Photo: Matthias Böhm · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hear the story of Danewerk on the spot with the app

All 695 points of interest in Schleswig-Holstein →

Walks within 2 km

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Cycle routes within 5 km

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Frequently asked questions

Who built Gottorf castle?

The current Gottorf castle in Schleswig was built by the architect Nicodemus Tessin de Jongere. He built the palace between 1697 and 1703.

Where is there a toilet near Gottorf castle in Schleswig?

The nearest public toilet is 39 metres from Gottorf castle, by the Schlei. It is free, wheelchair accessible and has a baby changing table.

Are there benches at Gottorf castle in Schleswig?

Yes, the nearest bench is 107 metres from Gottorf castle, by the Schlei. There are 17 benches within 500 metres.

Is there drinking water at Gottorf castle in Schleswig?

No, according to our map there is no water point within 1 km of Gottorf castle. So bring your own water.

What is there to see at Gottorf castle in Schleswig?

Gottorf castle houses two major state museums: one on art and cultural history and an archaeological museum. The archaeological museum has famous bog bodies and the renowned Nydamboot.

Since when has Gottorf castle been a museum?

Gottorf castle has been a museum since 1948. Before that it was, among other things, a barracks, and afterwards it was a refugee camp for a few years.