Discover Lübstorf: Lakeside, palace park and art

Lübstorf lies on the northwestern shore of Lake Schwerin’s Outer Lake. Tall forests and fertile, rolling fields shape the landscape; in Wiligrad, you’ll also find a palace, park, art and the shore of Lake Schwerin. Water, nature and cultural history offer different ways to plan your trip—from a stay by the lake to a visit to an exhibition.

Wiligrad Palace Park and its history

Wiligrad Palace was built from 1896 to 1898 at the behest of Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg and his wife, on the steep banks of Lake Schwerin. The Wiligrad landscaped park leads over a steep bank directly to the lakeshore. The palace park covers 19 hectares; more than 1,000 rhododendrons were newly planted during its restoration. The historic network of paths also offers insight into the design: five kilometres of paths were laid out when the park was planned, intended to lead to specific viewpoints and small architectural features. Check the current condition of the paths before setting out for a walk.

The palace is undergoing renovation and is closed; the palace park remains open to visitors. Since the work may affect your visit, check access to the park before travelling. This will help you plan your walk without relying on a visit to the palace.

Art and exhibitions in the Machine House

The Machine House at Wiligrad Palace houses an exhibition about the history of the palace, its builders, the buildings and the listed park. The Machine House also serves as an exhibition venue for the Wiligrad Art Association, not far from the palace. The association displays works by artists from Germany and abroad in the gallery, foyer and palace park. This brings the history of the architecture and park together with changing artistic perspectives.

The art association is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Opening hours vary on event days. Check the hours before your visit, especially if you plan to combine the exhibition with a walk.

Water, protected areas and outdoor activities

At Lübstorf’s small harbour, the boathouse complex offers water sports enthusiasts, especially anglers, a place to relax by Lake Schwerin’s Outer Lake. In the village of Rugensee, you can swim in the lake of the same name when the weather is warm. Rugensee lies within the Trebbow–Rugensee landscape and nature conservation area, combining swimming with a protected landscape.

A hike along the Friedrich-Franz-Weg is also listed as an activity in Wiligrad; check current trail conditions before setting out. Visitors with varied interests can shape their stay around art and architectural history, a walk in the palace park or time by the water. These themes complement one another without requiring a fixed itinerary.

Gardens and Northwest Mecklenburg

The Wiligrad palace nursery includes a garden café, a farm shop and arts and crafts. The garden café offers another place to stop alongside the exhibition and park. Check whether the café is currently open before travelling.

Northwest Mecklenburg provides a broader landscape setting, with a range of distinctive regions: to the north lies the Northwest Mecklenburg Hills, with Wismar Bay, and to the south, the West Mecklenburg Lake District, with Lake Schwerin. The county’s landscape is also shaped by terminal moraine ridges, gently undulating ground moraine plateaus, steep and shallow coasts, meltwater and drainage channels, and outwash plains. Lübstorf’s lakeside, park and cultural sites provide a tangible starting point for planning a trip within this wider region.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Seehof, Pingelshagen, Cramonshagen, Perlin, Brüsewitz, Gottesgabe, Pokrent, Dalberg-Wendelstorf.

Go to the broader travel overview: Amt Lützow-Lübstorf.