With its lavish papier-mâché decorations, the Golden Hall in Ludwigslust Palace is unique in Germany. The rare material is a challenge for restorers.

Ludwigslust (dpa/mv) - The Golden Hall of Ludwigslust Palace, with its unique room decoration made of papier-mâché, is now being fundamentally restored for the first time since the palace was built in the 18th century. The scaffolding will be erected by the end of the year, and work on the ceilings and walls will begin at the beginning of next year, as the responsible state building and property office in Schwerin announced on Wednesday. Maintenance work is also planned for the wooden supporting structures. The floor has already been restored, and considerable damage was revealed under the parquet.

The Golden Hall is closed to visitors because of the work, as it was said. You could follow the construction progress through a viewing window. Repair and restoration should last until the end of 2024. Then the hall should shine again in its old glory. The construction costs are estimated at six million euros. Some of the fixtures and fittings are worked up in restorer's workshops. The restoration of overdoors, mirrors, vases and chandeliers is a particular challenge.

The palace and town of Ludwigslust were built in the second half of the 18th century by Duke Friedrich the Pious, who moved his residence from Schwerin there. The Mecklenburg dukes resided in Ludwigslust for 70 years before the court moved back to Schwerin in the mid-19th century. The ducal family used the palace until 1945.