The Bienen-Lehr- und Schaugarten has been running since 1983, tucked into a red brick building and its surrounding garden right next to Ahrensburg Schloss. It’s a non-profit association of volunteer beekeepers and nature enthusiasts whose stated aim is to bring people closer to the world of honey bees and wild bees. It does this quietly and without much fuss, on two Sunday afternoons a month through the warmer half of the year.
The garden itself is designed for bees rather than visitors, which is exactly what makes it good. Bee-friendly planting throughout, wild bee nesting spots, an orchard section with traditional straw skep beehives in a classic Heath-style stand, and an ant trail through the grounds that has been running since 2003. Information boards along the route cover honey bees, wild bees, and the plants that support them. The working hive is the main draw for kids where you can get close to a live colony and watch it in action with volunteer beekeepers on hand to explain what’s happening.
The Museum and the Building
The first floor of the historic building houses a small permanent exhibition on bees. The ground floor is used for school groups, workshops, and seasonal events including the annual advent candle-making sessions in December. On regular open days, coffee, juice, and cake are available — not a full café, but enough to sit down with something warm while the kids investigate the garden.
Honey produced on site is available to buy on open days, along with beeswax candles made in the workshop. If you want to go deeper, the garden offers beekeeping courses over several evenings a year and runs a small queen-rearing programme. Group tours for school classes and other groups can be arranged outside regular opening hours by emailing [email protected].
Getting There
The garden is at Bagatelle 2, directly next to Ahrensburg Schloss, between the castle and the Badlantic swimming centre. Street parking available nearby. S-Bahn to Ahrensburg then a short walk.
Why Parents Love It:
- Free entry, donations welcome
- Coffee and cake on open days
- Calm, unhurried, genuinely educational
- Small enough to do easily with young kids
Why Kids Love It:
- Live beehive with volunteer beekeepers to explain it
- Garden designed to attract bees and other insects
- Ant trail through the grounds
- Honey and beeswax candles to buy and take home
