In Kleve the Swan Castle very much dominates the silhouette of the town. The Schwanenburg (Swan Castle), where the dukes of Kleve resided, was founded on a steep hill. The old castle has a massive tower - the Schwanenturm 180 feet high - which is associated in a legend with the Knights of the Swan and immortalized in Richard Wagner's Lohengrin. The Swan Tower today houses a geological museum, moreover, there is an impressive panoramic view of the Rhine plain to be had from here.

The Baroque gardens in Kleve were designed in the 17th century after models of European gardens from Berlin to Versailles. The natural beauty of terraces with pools and fountains are in fact reminiscent of a Greek theatre.