Gadebusch Renaissance Castle

The Renaissance castle from 1573 is particularly known for the detailed terracotta decorations on the facade. The 16th century building is currently being extensively renovated. The castle can be visited on guided tours at events such as the Open Monument Day.The original building of the Gadebusch Renaissance castle was a Slavic ring wall castle, which was documented on this site in the 8th century. Godebuz Castle was under Obodrite rule. From 1200 to 1204 the castle was occupied by the Danish and was then converted into a solid brick castle with a free-standing stone keep in the 13th century. From 1283 to 1299 the castle was the main residence of Mecklenburg princes. The nearby castle lake also takes its name from this period.The Barber-Ljaschtschenko Agreement (exchange of land between the British and the Soviet Union) was signed here in 1945. After 1945, the buildings were used as a museum, boarding school and later for administration.Although the castle is currently being renovated, you can visit it as part of special events and guided tours. The Gadebusch museum complex at the foot of the castle hill provides information about the history of the castle and the town. The museum courtyard with a view of the castle lake is also particularly inviting.mecklenburg-schwerin.de/unsere-region/staedte-und-orte/gadebusch/renaissance-schloss-gadebusch/index.html

Anyone interested in the North German brick Renaissance will find a true prime example in Gadebusch Castle. Built in 1573 on the orders of Duke Christoph of Mecklenburg, the picturesque castle is located on a small hill in the middle of the small town of Gadebusch, between Schwerin and Ratzeburg. Gadebusch Castle particularly impresses visitors with its richly decorated facade. The reliefs made of limestone and terracotta are based on the artistically designed palazzi in Italy and show Hanseatic and religious depictions, among other things. They were created in the workshop of Statius von Düren (ca. 1520-1570) in Lübeck.The history of the brick castle goes back to the 8th century. At that time, a ring wall castle stood on the site of today's Gadebusch Castle. Surrounded by a rugged landscape, it was called Godebuz. The name of the town of Gadebusch is therefore derived from this historic building. In fact, the castle was only converted into a solid brick castle in the 13th century and has since then been adorned with the Mecklenburg neo-Renaissance architectural style - the style that characterizes the current appearance of Gadebusch Castle. At that time, the castle also gained great importance as the main residence of the Mecklenburg princes.After centuries of aristocratic existence, Gadebusch Castle was used for various purposes in the 20th century, for example as a museum, boarding school, kindergarten, administrative building and district court. After the current renovation of the building, the State Music Academy is planned to move into Gadebusch Castle as part of the "Future Castle Gadebusch" project.
The entire castle area is to become a lively place full of culture and encounters.mecklenburg-schwerin.de/reiseziele/staedte-und-orte/gadebusch/schloss-gadebusch

The back could be restored. But the courtyard side is pretty pretty.