Discover Benrath: Palace Park, Museums and Trails

Benrath Palace Park as a defining destination

Benrath Palace Park, which is protected as a historic monument, covers more than 61 hectares. Around 45 hectares are designated as a nature conservation area. The park is open all day and can be entered free of charge. This makes it an activity in its own right that can be incorporated into the day’s plans independently of a museum visit.

A special part of the grounds is the English Garden. From 1807 onwards, it was gradually transformed from a Baroque garden into an English-style landscape garden. This change also makes the garden an interesting destination for visitors interested in the development of historic park styles. Those travelling with different interests can plan their visit to the park as a focus on the landscape and complement the palace museums with a cultural or natural history focus.

Palace, garden art and natural history museum

Benrath Palace was built in 1755 by Elector Karl Theodor as a hunting lodge and garden palace. The architect was Nicolas de Pigage. The Corps de Logis Museum documents the palace’s eventful history; the exhibition also illustrates life there from the 18th to the 20th century. This makes it possible to understand the site’s historical significance not only through its architecture but also through the way people lived in different eras.

The Museum of Garden Art provides an overview of the estimated 2,500-year history of gardens and explores the diversity of European garden art. In the western wing of Benrath Palace, the Natural History Museum also focuses on the natural environments of the region around Düsseldorf. The landscapes mentioned include the Rhine floodplains, the Neander Valley and the Ohligser Heide heath. This creates different reasons to visit: garden enthusiasts gain a historical and European perspective, while nature lovers can get to know regional habitats.

Planning your journey and excursions

For the journey, tram line U72 runs to the Schloss Benrath stop. The S6, RE1 or RE5 will take you to Benrath S-Bahn station; from there, it is a ten-minute walk. This connection is a practical factor when choosing accommodation if you do not want to plan excursions exclusively by car. Which holiday apartment or holiday home suits you depends above all on whether you want to focus on the park, museums, hiking or a combination of these activities.

There is also a specific option for a longer day trip: Route 6 of the Düsseldorf Trail runs for 13.8 kilometres from the Benrath depot to Benrather Bonner Straße and includes, among other places, Benrath Palace Park and Benrath Palace. The length of the route should be taken into account when planning your day. Anyone wishing to combine an excursion with physical activity can consider this route as a stand-alone option alongside a visit to the palace and museums.

Which accommodation suits your stay?

Accommodation in Benrath is a suitable base for various types of days: You can explore the free Palace Park and its garden areas, learn about the palace’s history at the Corps de Logis or explore historic garden culture at the Museum of Garden Art. The Natural History Museum broadens the view to include the landscapes around Düsseldorf. For families, this selection offers the opportunity to combine cultural, natural history and active activities according to their interests, without limiting their stay to just one attraction.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Benrath, it is therefore worth first deciding on your preferred travel rhythm. If you mainly want to experience museums and palace history, the cultural aspect takes centre stage. If you are looking for a longer route, Route 6 provides a clearly defined framework. If garden and landscape impressions are your priority, the Palace Park and English Garden are the right focus. This keeps your choice of accommodation connected to the actual interests of your trip.

Discover more places

Other destinations: Rath, Angermund, Garath, Wittlaer, Düsseldorf, Holthausen and Kalkum.

To the higher-level travel overview: Düsseldorf.