Palace and park in Bad Muskau

Bad Muskau is a location of a wonderful palace and park ensemble. The town itself is close to the border with Poland, so when you walk through the park, you will visit two countries at once.


The park was laid out in 1815 for a Prussian nobleman, Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau, and is one of the largest English landscape parks in Central Europe. We walked here for quite a long time, but we didn't see everything. The palace complex consists of several buildings:

 - New Palace (Neuen Schloss, 1 on the map)
 - Old Castle (Alten Schloss, 13)
 - Garden palace (Gartenpalais, Kavaliershaus, 14)
 - Royal Stables with Castle Buildings (Marstall mit Schlossvorwerk, 15)
 - Orangerie (Orangerie, 16)


During World War II, the defense line passed through the park, so the entire complex was significantly damaged. And after the end of hostilities, locals and Soviet soldiers looted everything and burned the palace. Prior to German unification, restoration was very slow, in part because the complex stood on the border. In wikipedia you can see pictures from that time.

The basic restoration was carried out from 1995 to 2011, its result we can see now.

Near the entrance to the park, you are greeted by an old building, the remains of a medieval castle. It is not the castle itself, but only the gatehouse of the original castle complex.


Behind it is the main pearl of the park - the New Palace. It is definitely one of the best palaces (castles) in Germany.








All of the buildings in the park were originally built with a defensive purpose, but because of repeated changes, this is no longer noticeable now, as the functions of the buildings have been adapted to their respective tasks and cultural requirements. However, some interesting elements remain. For example, these arbors are actually the remains of unfinished defensive bastions.


This is best seen from above.


The new castle is a complex of three neo-Renaissance wings. And on the park side, a huge ramp is built, which creates a coherent connection between the park landscape and the building.




Just beyond the ramp is a huge empty lawn, which was used for various events. The park was originally planned by Prince Pückler for entertaining purposes.








Inside the palace is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the creator of the park, and the high tower can be climbed.


There are very interesting elements in the park that we haven't seen anywhere else. For example, this huge bush.


Or this young tree that grows from an old one.








The lion sculpture is modern.




Getting there: we parked right near the park 51.546227, 14.721927. The nearest train station is Weißwasser (9 km), take a bus from there.