Castles & Palaces
Ludwigslust Palace – elegance in palace and park form
Situated in Mecklenburg, near Schwerin, this late-baroque palace and park ensemble doesn't fail to impress and amaze. And yet appearances can be deceiving, with many of the decorative elements in the palace actually having been created using what has come to be known as 'Ludwigslust board'.
This elongated palace building blends together late-baroque and classicism, with courtly splendour adorning the interior in the form of a beautifully elegant gold and light-grey colour scheme. The star of the show is the Golden Hall, which is spread out across two floors and combines the rich pomp of the Louis XVI era with the playful merriment of the rococo period. Large mirrors give the illusion of the golden Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and ornately decorated ceiling being doubled, providing a grand setting for lively celebrations.
And yet appearances can be deceiving, with many of the decorative elements on the walls and ceilings actually having been created using papier-mâché, which has come to be known as 'Ludwigslust board', rather than stucco or wood. There's even a papier-mâché Venus de' Medici that is part of the original contents alongside furniture and exceptional works of art. The Ludwigslust Palace Park is another work of art in its own right, featuring cascades and water features, elegant avenues, two mausoleums, the Swiss House and the Stone Bridge. There's no shame in lusting after all this Ludwigslust delight.