The Ducal Palace Celle❘Top Sight in Celle

Visit one of the most beautiful Palaces in Northern Germany

As with the town’s half-timbered buildings, the Ducal Palace belongs to the very landscape of Celle and should absolutely be on your list of the most important sights to see, on a trip to Celle.

No matter from which direction you approach Celle Palace, you immediately notice the gleaming white facade. The Palace itself sits enthroned on a slight hill in the middle of the Palace park. A footpath leads around the Palace and from here you have a wonderful all-round view of the freely accessible Palace park with moat, its old trees and the adjoining town.

To learn the history of the Palace, a visit to the Residence Museum, with or without a guide, is a must.

Pictures of the Celle Palace in the Seasons

Celle Palace with Crocuses in Bloom in Spring

View from the church tower to Celle Palace

Wohlklang the Stallion in the Palace Park

Visitor Information

Residence Museum

Visits to the Residence Museum are possible from:

May-October & 1st-3rd
Weeks of Advent:
Tues-Sun 10:00-17:00 hours

November - April
Tues-Sun 11:00-16:00 hours

Entry prices:
Adults: € 8.00 p.p.
Reductions: € 5.00 p.p. (applies to groups of 5 people or more, students and visitors 1 hour before closing time)
Children and schoolchildren: free entry

Public Guided Palace Tours

It is NOT possible to reserve a place in advance on this tour.

April to October &
1st - 3rd weekends of Advent:
Tue-Fri + Sun: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 hours
Sat: 11:00 – 15:00 every hour

November – March
Tue – Fri: 12:00, 14:00 hours
Sat + Sun: 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 hours

Guided Tours may be subject to restrictions (depending on events in Celle Palace permitting).

Prices (incl. admission to the museum):
Adults: € 9.00 p.p.
Reductions: € 7.00 p.p. (schoolchildren, students and disabled visitors)
Family ticket: € 18.00 (2 adults and children under 16 years)

Duration of the Tour: appr. 60 minutes

Group Tours: max. 15 people per group

It is NOT possible to reserve a place on the Public Guided Palace Tours in advance!

Contact:
Palace Information Desk
Tel.: +49 5141 124515
E-Mail: counter-schloss@celle.de

Entry information

Accessibility: Almost all rooms in the Residence Museum are accessible via the lift. If for any reason this is not possible, the museum's supervisory staff will be happy to help (access to the cashiers and the museum shop is up 3 steps).

At the entrance on the right hand side, there is a doorbell with an intercom system to contact the cashier.

There is an accessible toilet in the building, which can be reached via the lift.

There is a passenger ‘drop off only’ space in front of the Palace, but there are no parking spaces at the Palace or in the grounds.

Corona-Information for your Visit to Celle Palace:

You can find all information about the current regulations on the website of the Residenzmuseum.

The Impressive History of Celle Palace

Mentioned for the first time as "castrum" in 1315, this initially plain and simple castle was converted into an elaborate and magnificent four-wing Palace complex over the centuries and constantly expanded. An unmistakable combination of Renaissance and Baroque styles can be seen here.

From the 14th century to 1705, Celle was the permanent residence of the Guelph Dukes of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and in the 19th century, served as the summer residence of the Kings of Hanover. The Palace, integrated into the Historic Old Town, reflects the development from a castle to a residential Palace throughout the various phases of construction. Structures from all periods of use have been preserved: the medieval castle, the knight's hall, the baroque State Apartments and the baroque theatre as well as the east wing, which was redesigned in the 19th century by the Hanoverian court architect Georg Friedrich Laves (1788-1864).

Interior of the Celle Palace Chapel — © Residenzmuseum im Celler Schloss. Foto: Fotostudio Loeper, Celle

The Palace Chapel, with its display of early Protestant art and paintings, is considered an important example of Renaissance art in northern Germany and can only be seen as part of a guided tour of the Guelph Palaces – as are the Palace kitchens, displayed with 19th-century furnishings. Visits to the State Apartments and the Palace kitchens are also part of the Palace tours.

In addition to the Residence Museum, the Palace houses the oldest Baroque theatre in Europe that is still in use today.

Today you can also experience Celle Palace

as an event location

Guests and residents can experience Celle Palace today in a variety of ways.

The Celle museums host a large summer festival in front of the Palace on a regular basis. Every two years, vintage cars, known as ‘Old Timers’ can be admired in the Palace grounds, at the most beautiful vintage car display in Northern Germany, an event known as ‘Oldtimer + Fachwerk’. The lawn in front of the Palace is also part of the annual Celle town festival and in winter there is fun for visitors at the ‘Winterzauber‘, the Celle winter festival (‘Winter Magic’). You can read more about events currently taking place in the Celle event calendar.

Apart from that, the Palace and parkland is a popular meeting place not only for locals, but also for the many tourists who come to Celle for a relaxing break, to visit the Ducal Palace, go on a Celle town tour or for a leisurely shopping trip.

...more than a Museum

Celle Palace Laves Staircase — © Residenzmuseum im Celler Schloss. Foto: Fotostudio Loeper, Celle

Celle Palace is a popular wedding venue, with beautiful ‘Kaminzimmer‘ (fireplace room) available in the west wing. The Knight's Hall, as a large space in the Palace, is very often used for events, concerts and ceremonies.

However, the Palace is also home to the German Management Academy of Lower Saxony (DMAN) which has been based there for many years. The academy itself has existed for over 30 years and specialises in qualifying specialists and managers for success in international markets. In addition, DMAN offers conferences and training courses in the seminar rooms of Celle Palace.

In addition to the Residence Museum, the Celle Palace Theatre is another magnet for visitors. Modern and cosmopolitan, it is one of the oldest permanently working theatres in Germany with a permanent cast. In addition to the main stage, the theatre has studio stages on the ground floor of the Palace, the Palace courtyard and HALLE 19, in the grounds of the earlier CD barracks.

Gastronomy at Celle Palace

Theatre Cellar in Celle Palace — © Schlosskönig Celle

Visitors to the Celle Palace Theatre also take pleasure in spending time at the ‘Theaterkeller‘ restaurant after the performance.
Both the Theaterkeller and the café in the ‘Kaminzimmer‘ (the ‘fireplace’ room) of the Palace are operated by the Celle SCHLOSSKÖNIG. The Theaterkeller, situated in the Palace vaulted cellar, is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and is also suitable for small celebrations and group meetings.
The Kaminzimmer café is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All dishes are organic and there are also choices for vegetarians and vegans. During summer theatre productions in the Palace courtyard, SCHLOSSKÖNIG's summer café is open with a selection of food and drinks.

The Residence Museum at Celle Palace

The State Apartments in Celle Palace — © Residenzmuseum im Celler Schloss. Foto: Fotostudio Loeper, Celle

It has been a long time since the last Dukes left Celle. But their traces and stories are still firmly connected to Celle Palace and are there for everyone to experience. This history comes to life in the Residence Museum. Here, you can gain an understanding of the life of the former Palace residents at close quarters. Many secrets of bygone times are uncovered during a guided tour of the Palace and while strolling through the baroque State Apartments and Palace rooms, you will feel you have been directly transported back to those times.
A special highlight during a guided tour is the Palace Chapel: it is the only Chapel north of the Alps, with completely preserved Renaissance furnishings.

Taking Celle as an example, you can follow the typical development of a Royal Residence and how a late medieval ceremonial hall comes to life. The baroque State Apartments of the last Duke of Celle, George William, form an architectural highlight. Discover more via the numerous, in-depth information points or simply enjoy the beauty of the Palace rooms, the scenes of which in earlier times, are set against the backdrop of the superb paintings and valuable furniture.
The "Königssaal" (the ‘Kings’ Hall’) attracts visitors with its imposing pictures and selected treasures from the time of the Hanoverian-British Personal Union and the Kingdom of Hanover in the 18th and 19th centuries. One cabinet is dedicated entirely to precious silver objects crafted by Celle masters.

A 360-degree view of the inner courtyard of Celle Palace.

A 360-degree view of the Palace kitchen in Celle Palace.

An exhibition room in the Residenzmuseum Celle in 360-degree view.

Who lived in Celle Palace?

For many centuries, Celle Palace was the permanent residence of the Dukes of Braunschweig-Lüneburg and thus the seat of government of the most important Guelph principality. Dukes, Princesses and Queens lived here over the centuries. Naturally, they all left their mark on this Guelph Palace, which has been expanded and redesigned again and again.

The history of the Palace can be experienced yet even more deeply through the stories and personal strokes of fate that befell the Celle Palace residents over the years. The joys and the sorrows in love, of Royal Guelph women even today have the power to move visitors - such as the last Duchess of Celle "Éléonore Desmier d´Olbreuse", the banished Princess von Ahlden "Sophie Dorothea" and the Danish Queen "Caroline Mathilde".

More about the Guelphs

Duke Georg Wilhelm — © Residenzmuseum im Celler Schloss. Foto: Fotostudio Loeper, Celle

How to experience Celle Palace in all its facets