Six discoveries in and around Benrath Palace

We show you the fairytale castle and its special corners

Once upon a time there was an elector named Karl Theodor von der Pfalz. He had a magnificent pink fairytale palace built for himself in the south of Düsseldorf. And even though the elector himself only visited the estate once, many visitors come here today. Not only the palace and its buildings, but also the park with its unique location on the Rhine attract guests to Benrath - especially on special occasions such as the Festival of Lights or the Christmas market. We show you what else there is to discover on site.

Looking behind the hidden doors of the bathroom

In the 18th century, physical hygiene became more important - and with it the importance of the manorial bathrooms. There are two large ones in the palace, one for the elector and one for the electress. The special feature of these bathrooms is a hidden door that connects the two halves of the apartment. This meant that the electress and elector could visit their partner without being seen. The bathrooms are also a real eye-catcher thanks to the elaborate stucco decorations.

Admire the music gallery

The centerpiece of the main "Corps de Logis" building is the domed hall. Where civil weddings are held today, people used to dance the night away. Musical accompaniment was a must. Six to eight musicians sat in the hidden music gallery and played "heavenly music" from there: The music fell down on the guests from above, so to speak.  

Recognize symmetries

If you look at the castle and its park from above, you will immediately notice the symmetrical structure. The wings of the main building, the "Corps de Logis", each have the same layout. The wings can only be assigned to their former occupants by the interior furnishings and the color scheme: pink for the electress' rooms, green for the elector's rooms. The park is also traversed by straight lines - a tip for all photographers.

Rummage in the kitchen garden

The palace garden is not only beautiful to look at, but is also home to various useful plants. In the past, dessert fruit from Benrath was popular thanks to the orangery and was even delivered to the king's court in Berlin. Today you can buy herbs, lettuce or cut flowers directly from the somewhat remote kitchen garden, depending on the season. This is tended and cared for by the workshop for adapted work.

Discover hidden rooms

The electoral couple naturally needed a lot of service in the palace. Cooks, valets, maids, servants and many others were responsible for this. And so that they did not disturb the prince and his guests, there was a mezzanine floor for the staff. There is a well-hidden door in the stairwell of the "Corps de Logis" that leads to the staff rooms. If you would like to explore more of the castle's secret rooms and corridors, book a "Hidden Rooms" tour of the castle.

Enjoy sweet temptations in the castle café

Such an exploratory tour makes you hungry. Good thing there's the castle café. Here you can fortify yourself with coffee and cake or a breakfast beforehand. With the elector's breakfast against the backdrop of the castle grounds, you can live like Elisabeth Auguste once did. Current opening hours: Fridays to Sundays 10 am to 5 pm.

If you want to find out more about the castle, take a look here.

Cover picture: Judith Schäfers