Photos courtesy of Schlosshotel Ralswiek
Schloss Ralswiek sits on a location occupied by noble families since the Middle Ages. Today’s neo-Renaissance schloss dates from 1891 and was designed to resemble a French Renaissance château.
The estate was built by Hugo Sholto Douglas, earl of Douglas. Of Scottish ancestry, he made his fortune by mining in Germany. He fought in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and was awarded the Iron Cross.
The schloss was confiscated from the Douglas family after World War II and turned into a nursing home and home for the handicapped for the German Red Cross.
In 1999, renovations began for its new life as a hotel, finally opening its doors to guests in 2002.
Pamela’s Perspective
To best enjoy the area, you really need a car, although cyclists will do just fine. Public transportation isn’t very extensive on the island.
Schlosshotel Ralswiek
A 19th-century palace
Contact
Parkstrasse 35
18528 Ralswiek/Rügen
Tel: ++49 (0) 3838 2032 0
Hotel website
Reserve with Booking.com
Fast facts
65 rooms
Single rooms: 65–87 euros
Double rooms: 80–193 euros
Suites: 173–223 euros
Prices include breakfast, service,
and taxes.
Packages available.
Open: all year
Getting there
Ralswiek is located on Rügen Island. From Stralsund by car, take B96 north. Look for the Ralswiek junction to the left. Pass through the village, then through the gate. The nearest train station is in Bergen/Rügen, a 10-minute taxi ride away.
What to do
On site: swimming pool; fitness
room
Nearby: Open-air theater; cycling;
hiking
Weddings
Yes. Inquire hotel for details.
Surrounded by a nature park and with views out to the sea, this fine 19th-century palace makes for a quiet holiday. Its location is ideal for exploring the beaches and forests of Rügen Island.
Guest rooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all are very clean, if not a little spartan, with mahogany furniture mixed with an occasional antique furnishing. Bathrooms are modern.
Breakfast is the usual hearty German buffet spread of cereals, fruits, and cheese, along with the addition of hot waffles. During the summer months, if the weather is good, dinner may be taken outside on the terrace with views of the Störtebeker Festival. For after dinner drinks, try the Grafenschenke bar in the brick-vaulted castle cellar.
Something special
Störtebeker Festival. During the summer months, the largest open-air spectacle of the Baltic Sea is held. 150 actors, ships, and horses re-enact the pirate adventure of “Störtebeker’s Gold: The Treasure of the Templars.”