From 2016 to 2023, the carefully restored Baroque castle housed an internationally acclaimed collection of contemporary photographic art across 2,000 square meters. Here, the art engages in a dialogue with deliberately preserved traces of the past, which bear witness to the use of the space by previous generations and life under shifting ideologies.

The exhibition is currently closed for restoration. The castle is open on specific dates and can be rented as an event venue and for weddings.

The history of Kummerow Castle, completed in 1730, is closely linked to the von Maltzahn family. It was built in the late Baroque style and later expanded to include a landscape park. After World War I, the house and park were renovated. Under Mortimer von Maltzahn, the estate experienced a golden age. After 1945, the castle served as a quarantine camp and was used by the municipality until 1993. It housed an elementary school, a secondary school, and other facilities. In 1993, it was sold privately and was to be converted into a hotel, but these plans fell through. In 2011, Kummerow Castle passed into the possession of its current owner, who turned it into a publicly accessible art gallery. The first exhibition on Open Monument Day in 2015 attracted 4,000 visitors.

The elegant and pragmatic castle on Lake Kummerow reflects the work and power of a bygone era. The central two-story residential building, surrounded by galleries and pavilions, forms a closed block facing the lake. The castle square opens onto the village of Kummerow and is surrounded by historic buildings. The complex showcases both its ceremonial and private aspects. Visitors are led through a main portal into the interior of the house, where they can discover the magnificent ballroom and the romantic garden with an impressive view of Lake Kummerow.

The park’s landscaping, comparable to that of Potsdam or Schwerin, leaves a lasting impression. The official designation “Mecklenburg Switzerland and Lake Kummerow Nature Park” encapsulates everything visitors can discover here: a journey through national cultural treasures that reflect the history of our region.

Civil wedding ceremonies are held in the Hall of Mirrors; the large hall on the ground floor is used for receptions, conferences, and concerts. The photography exhibition is currently being renovated and is temporarily closed. The castle opens for specific events and can be rented for functions and weddings.

Photos: DOMUSImages, Juliane Henke, Bernd Lasdin, Thomas Wesely