Ahrensburg Castle (Schlob) is situated 14 miles north of Hamburg. It is a wonderful preserved whitewashed palace which is open to visitors. The castle’s interiors are of Baroque and Rococo styles and very lavish. Built in 1595 for Peter Rantzau, the palace later passed into the hands of a Danish count. Today the palace contains a museum about the way of life for nobility in Germany - particularly that of the most recent residents, the Schimmelmann family, from the 19th century. Included is original furniture, porcelain collections, and many works of art.