Residence Museum in Celle Palace

Celle is one of Lower Saxony’s most important royal capitals. For nearly three centuries, it served as the permanent residence of the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg and thus as the seat of government for the most significant Guelph principality. The castle, nestled in the idyllic half-timbered town, still bears traces of its past as a medieval seat of power, a Baroque residence until 1705, and a summer retreat for the kings of Hanover in the 19th century. The Residence Museum presents the history of the castle and its inhabitants in a modern setting. The focus is on the oldest ruling house in Europe still in existence today: the Guelphs.

The example of Celle illustrates the typical evolution of a royal residence; a late-medieval banquet hall is also brought to life. The Baroque state apartments of the last Duke of Celle, Georg Wilhelm, are an architectural highlight. The palace rooms are effectively showcased through paintings and valuable furnishings. The “King’s Hall” captivates visitors with its imposing paintings and selected treasures from the era of the Hanoverian-British personal union and the Kingdom of Hanover in the 18th and 19th centuries. A cabinet is dedicated to precious silver objects crafted by Celle masters.