About this experience
During the walking tour, we will stroll through the old town and get acquainted with its history, architecture, and famous residents. Then we will visit Oyten Castle and touch the history not only of Germany but also of Russia. Since April 2016, it has been possible to take a walk in the magnificent park of the castle on the shore of the lake.
Oyten
Located 100 km northeast of Hamburg in the picturesque region of Holstein Switzerland is the small town of Oyten, where significant European history was written. It is situated on the shore of Lake Oyten, where a Slavic settlement, Utin, emerged in the 8th century.
The Russian Empress Catherine the Great spent her childhood in the castle of this town when she was still Princess Sophia Augusta Frederica of Anhalt-Zerbst. Her mother was from Oyten and was born precisely in this castle. It was here that Princess Sophia Augusta was introduced to her future husband, Prince Charles Peter Ulrich of Holstein-Gottorp, the grandson of Peter the Great, who was destined to become the Russian Tsar Peter III. Portraits of the Russian imperial family and a painting by Catherine the Great can be seen in Oyten Castle.
The great German composer Carl Maria von Weber was born in the town of Oyten, who was a pioneer of German Romantic opera. Every year, in honor of him, an open-air opera festival is held in the castle park. From April to October 2016, a regional garden and park exhibition will take place in this park where you can enjoy the beauty of landscape design.
In 1972, scenes of the Hollywood movie 'Cabaret' starring Liza Minnelli were filmed at Oyten Castle.
Oyten is called the northern Weimar, as many great German poets, philosophers, and artists lived and worked here.
Program
We will walk through the main sights of the city and conclude the tour at a private Oyten brewery, where we will enjoy hearty German dishes accompanied by fresh local beer brewed here following the old tradition since the 17th century.
