Schwerin celebrates its first castle festival as a UNESCO World Heritage site with a spectacle!

Schwerin celebrates its first castle festival as a UNESCO World Heritage site with a spectacle!

Today, June 14, 2025, Schwerin shines in the brilliant light of its historic castle festival. This event is being celebrated for the first time since the residence ensemble was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, and the city has planned nothing less than the return of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II himself. At 10 a.m. he received the homage of the people at the main train station, accompanied by cheerful shouts of “Up, up, up!” and a warm wish for a “wonderful day”.

Saturday began with a magnificent carriage ride through the city center, attended by hundreds of visitors and around 140 costumed participants. These beautifully dressed actors bring back the courtly flair of the 19th century and are sure to raise astonished faces. The President of the State Parliament, Birgit Hesse (SPD), did not miss the opportunity to welcome the festival community at the castle and symbolically handed over the impressive building to the Grand Duke for one day.

Unique experiences and a colorful program

The festival offers a variety of entertainment options: In addition to fascinating lectures and perhaps even a small fencing match, visitors can try on historical costumes in the castle garden and go on a journey back in time to the 19th century. The festival community can look forward to dance performances, and the state police orchestra will provide musical accompaniment. There are also over 150 members of the Schwerin Castle Association and other clubs on site, including children's groups, who enrich the event.

On Friday evening, the castle festival was ceremoniously opened with the impressive light show “Son et Lumière”, which recreates nostalgic images from the life of Friedrich Franz II on the main portal of the castle. This visual masterpiece was nothing less than an exciting “journey through the past” and will be repeated on Saturday evening under the motto “Sound of Germany”. And for anyone who wants to know more about it, there are guided tours, lectures and a craft market.

traffic and safety

The preparations are extensive and there is also important information for drivers. From 9 p.m. the area around the Old Garden will be closed to vehicles, while pedestrians will no longer be able to get from the Palace Garden to the Castle Garden or across the Palace Bridge from 10 p.m. These traffic restrictions will be lifted again around midnight. Disruptions are also to be expected during the parade on Saturday morning, so it's better to plan in advance.

If you don't want to miss the special event, you also have the opportunity to attend the open day in the castle on Sunday, June 15th. The start is also at 10 a.m.

The city of Schwerin has taken up the cause of a really good piece of culture with this castle festival. An estimated 20,000 visitors are expected, and the anticipation is palpable among young and old. A great event for the whole family that will certainly be remembered for a long time. Maybe you'll even meet Mathias Schott, who has been playing the Grand Duke for 30 years, or Annekatrin Scherneck, who has been playing the role of the Grand Duchess for 14 years!

For further information, the details of the event can be found on the website Northern Courier, Schwerin.de and NDR be checked.