Clemenswerth & Oldenburg

Clemenswerth

Emsland, to the south of East Frisia, extends along the Dutch border, a poor area since time immemorial, with moors and boglands. Only the discovery of oil in the 20th century engineered its progress. Sogel, 33 km (21 miles) south of Greater Papenburg, has the region’s greatest attraction, the palatial hunting lodge or schloss Clemenswerth, built from 1737–49. In search of solitude, the elector and archbishop of Cologne Clemens August commissioned the lodge from Johan Conrad Schlaun. The design was modelled on the pavilionpagoda of Nymphenburg in Munich. Altogether it comprises seven pavilions with mansard roofs and a chapel.

All the brick buildings were laid out on a green lawn, creating a star shape around the palace. Inside there is a museum of the region.

Oldenburg

A thousand years old, and once part of Denmark, this town remained the seat of a duchy until 1918.

The Lambertikirche, in the central market square, is a late-Gothic hall-church with a Neo-Classical rotunda added in 1797. The Schloss, the ducal residence, displays a similar marriage of styles, particularly Baroque and Neo-Classical. The Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte (state museum of art and culture), based in the castle, is known mainly for its collection of paintings assembled by Wilhelm Tischbein, who lived here for 25 years.

The affiliated Augusteum, a Neo-Renaissance building in a picturesque spot, holds the museum’s modern collection.

Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte

Tel (0441) 220 73 00

Timings: 9am–5pm Tue, Wed & Fri, 9am–8pm Thu, 10am–5pm Sat & Sun

Holidays: 1 Jan, Good Friday, Easter, 1 May, 24, 25 & 31 Dec.

Environs

The small spa town of Bad Zwischenahn is worth a visit. Its star attraction is the Gothic St Johanniskirche with frescoes from 1512.