Schlemmin: Castle, Park and Rose Garden

Schlemmin is a municipality in the western part of the Vorpommern-Rügen district, southeast of Ribnitz-Damgarten. Several themes come together here when choosing a travel destination: the history of the castle, the park and rose garden, mustard production, and a village church dating from the 13th century. If you are looking for hotels for a stay in Schlemmin, these local highlights can help structure your decision. You might choose a place based on its architecture and history, gardens, or opportunities to learn about mustard production.

Castle History and Park

Schlemmin Castle is a neo-Gothic building constructed in 1846 by architect and master builder Eduard Knoblauch. It stands on the foundations of a moated castle dating from the 14th century. The building’s history thus brings together a medieval predecessor and the 19th-century neo-Gothic design. The two dates help distinguish the building phases: the moated castle is the earlier predecessor, while the castle was built in 1846.

The castle is set within a 20-hectare park. Lime tree avenues, oaks, beeches and waterways shape the park. The castle grounds therefore offer a landscape setting in their own right, in addition to the architecture. If you are choosing a destination mainly for its architectural history, the castle offers specific dates to explore; if you are interested in landscaped grounds, you can consider the park’s features as a separate highlight.

Rose Garden and Mustard Mill

More than 250 different roses grow in Schlemmin’s rose garden. Personal visits to the rose garden and Rose Dew’s ceramics are possible by prior arrangement. Call ahead, as visitor arrangements may change. The park and rose garden offer different highlights: avenues, trees and waterways shape the park, while the rose garden focuses on its wide variety of roses.

The Schlemmin mustard mill offers another perspective. It cold-grinds mustard using a stone mill weighing 1,000 kilograms and produces around 30 varieties. Guided experiences combine insights into mustard production with tasting and shopping. This focus differs considerably from the gardens: here, the emphasis is on the production process and the different mustard varieties. If you are planning a guided tour, check the current dates in advance, as schedules may change.

Village Church and Local History

Schlemmin’s village church dates from the 13th century. Following basic repairs, it was rededicated in 1878. The castle and church are within walking distance of each other; the church is also often requested for religious wedding ceremonies. Its history adds another historic building and a later rededication following repairs to the story of the castle. This makes it possible to distinguish between different periods and building functions in Schlemmin without conflating the village church with the castle.

Culture in the wider Vorpommern-Rügen destination

Beyond Schlemmin, the wider destination of Vorpommern-Rügen offers a broader cultural and natural setting. The number of museums in the Vorpommern-Rügen district is estimated at around 60. Regional culture includes the old town of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar.” The Kloster Gallery in Ribnitz-Damgarten mainly presents contemporary regional art, as well as a permanent exhibition of prints by Lyonel Feininger. On Rügen, the beech forests in Jasmund National Park are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe.” These examples represent the wider destination; Schlemmin’s local features remain its castle, park, rose garden, mustard mill and village church.

Discover more destinations: Langendamm, Ahrenshagen-Daskow, Ribnitz-Damgarten, Semlow

Go to the wider travel overview: Amt Ribnitz-Damgarten.