Guestrow, the chateau, Mecklenburg

The Guestrow Chateau is one of the few remaining representative Renaissance buildings in North Germany.
The south and west wings are of particular architectonic interest. French, Italian and northern alpine elements combine in a multinational form. It was preceded by a castle which served as the residence of a Prince of Werle in the 13th. century. His dynasty died out in 1436 and the estate passed to the Duchy of Schwerin.
Güstrow and Schwerin were both seats of the Dukes of Mecklenburg. Part of the mediaeval castle burned down during the reign of Ulrich III. in (1556-1603). Duke Ulrich of Mecklenburg had a new wing built which was planned as a house with four wings. Franz Parr, who stemmed from an Italian master builder family, worked on the west and south wings from 1558 to 1567 under contract to the Duke.
After a second fire the Dutch master builder and sculptor Philipp Brandin built the north-east wing of the house. It was the residence of Albrecht von Wallenstein from 1628 to 1630.

Building work was completed in the second half of the 17th. century with the gatehouse and the bridge by Ch. Ph. Dieussart.

The most attractive part of the chateau by far is the great reception hall with its stucco decor dating from 1620.
There is also an extensive collection of weaponry and hunting pieces, European Renaissanceart, a glass collection from the State Museum in Schwerin and antique pieces dating from mediaeval times to 1945.
The gardens were also redesigned in recent years on a Renaissance theme during the restoration of the chateau.