Introduction
Just a few kilometres north of Munich lies one of Germany's most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture - the magnificent Schleissheim Palace Complex. This grand estate comprises three distinct palaces set within a stunning formal garden, offering visitors a glimpse into Bavaria's royal past. Though it may appear as a magnificent palace complex today, the site actually began with very modest origins, evolving over centuries into the impressive ensemble we see today. The three palaces - Old Palace, New Palace, and Lustheim Palace - each represent different periods and architectural styles, creating a fascinating journey through Bavarian royal history.
Interesting Facts about Schleissheim Palace
- The Schleißheim Palace complex comprises three distinct palaces: the Alte Schloss (Old Palace), Neues Schloss (New Palace), and Lustheim Palace, showcasing architectural evolution from Renaissance to Baroque styles.
- Lustheim Palace stands on a circular artificial island within the estate's sprawling Baroque gardens, designed as an Italianate hunting lodge for Elector Max Emanuel's wedding celebrations.
- The New Palace's Grand Hall features extraordinary ceiling frescoes by Venetian master Jacopo Amigoni and Bavarian artist Cosmas Damian Asam, considered pinnacles of Baroque interior decoration.
- Elector Max Emanuel originally planned a four-winged palace complex but scaled back ambitions to a single-winged structure after losing Bavaria during the War of Spanish Succession.
- The New Palace's picture gallery once held Europe's largest collection of Baroque art, with surviving works still displayed in their original 18th-century arrangements.
- The estate's formal gardens remain one of Europe's best-preserved Baroque landscape designs, featuring a 1.2km canal system aligning perfectly with Munich's Frauenkirche towers.
- Schloss Lustheim houses the world's most significant collection of early Meissen porcelain, showcasing over 2,000 pieces from the manufacturer's golden age.
- The Old Palace's cellars contain remnants of Duke Wilhelm V's original 16th-century manor, preserved despite his son's decision to demolish the upper structure.
- During the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the palace's grounds hosted equestrian events, temporarily transforming the Baroque gardens into an international sporting arena.
- American forces secretly stored looted Nazi art in the palace's bomb-damaged halls during WWII before works were returned to rightful owners.
History
The story of Schleissheim began with Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria, who commissioned a simple manor house around 1598 as a place for contemplation after his abdication. Wilhelm had found himself in enormous financial debt during his reign and eventually abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Maximilian I. The secluded moorland of Schleissheim provided the perfect setting for the former Duke's intended life of prayer and reflection.
Wilhelm's son Maximilian I, however, had much grander ambitions. In 1617, he ordered the original manor house to be demolished down to its cellar walls and commissioned the construction of what is now known as the Old Palace (Altes Schloss). This late Renaissance building, completed in 1623, was designed in the style of Andrea Palladio by architects Heinrich Schön and Hans Krumpper. The rooms were sumptuously decorated by the artist Peter Candid, creating a residence befitting the Duke's status. Maximilian's son and successor, Ferdinand Maria, would later die here in 1679, marking a significant chapter in the palace's history.
The complex expanded significantly under Elector Max Emanuel in the early 1700s. Nicknamed the "Blue Elector," Max Emanuel had imperial ambitions and commissioned the impressive New Palace (Neues Schloss) in 1701, hoping to create a residence worthy of imperial status. His original plan was extraordinarily ambitious - a four-winged complex that would have incorporated the Old Palace. However, the War of the Spanish Succession soon brought an end to his grand plans. His defeat saw Max Emanuel sent into exile, and work on Schleissheim was halted. Upon his return to Bavaria, he was forced to scale down his original ostentatious design, completing only the main wing by the time of his death in 1726.
Earlier, in 1685, Max Emanuel had also built Lustheim Palace, a smaller pleasure palace in late Baroque style to celebrate his marriage to Maria Antonia of Austria, daughter of the Austrian emperor. This garden villa, designed by Enrico Zuccalli in Italian style, was constructed between 1684 and 1688, forming an elegant counterpoint to the larger palaces in the complex.
Description
The Old Palace (Altes Schloss)
The Old Palace represents the earliest surviving structure in the Schleissheim complex. Built between 1617 and 1623 in late Renaissance style, it features two distinct courtyards - the inner Maximilianshof and the outer Wilhelmshof. The central gate and clock tower between both courtyards date back to this first building period, creating a stately entrance to the palace grounds.
The building's design is typologically similar to the castle of Laufzorn in Oberhaching, which was begun by Maximilian's brother Albert just a year before. In both structures, a free staircase leads up to the first floor, which serves as the main residential area. The Old Palace was designed in the style of Andrea Palladio, the influential Italian Renaissance architect, giving it a distinctive classical appearance.
After suffering heavy damage during World War II, the Old Palace underwent extensive reconstruction beginning in 1970. Most of the stucco decoration of the Wilhelmskapelle chapel has been preserved, offering visitors a glimpse of its original splendour. Today, the Old Palace houses two exhibitions from the Bavarian National Museum: Gertrud Weinhold's ecumenical collection "The Religious Year and its Festivals" and an exhibition on the history and culture of Eastern and Western Prussia. The Grand Hall in the middle of the main building now serves as a foyer for these museums, welcoming visitors into the historic space.
In the garden of the Old Palace stands a memorial to the Royal Bavarian Air Force, commemorating those who served during World War I at the airfield adjacent to the palace grounds - a reminder of the site's varied history beyond its royal connections.
The New Palace (Neues Schloss)
The crown jewel of the Schleissheim complex is undoubtedly the New Palace, an impressive Baroque structure spanning over 300 metres in length. Construction began in 1701 under architect Enrico Zuccalli and was later expanded by Joseph Effner between 1719 and 1726. The palace was commissioned by Elector Max Emanuel at the height of his career in the 1690s as part of his ambitious plan to create a residence worthy of imperial status.
The New Palace is a wide-bearing construction with the main building, or corps de logis, divided by 37 garden-sided window bays. Eleven axes fall on the middle section, which contains the grand staircase, the ballroom, and the gallery. This middle section is structured with pilasters, creating a rhythmic and harmonious façade. The main wing is connected by arcades with two pavilions - the southern pavilion was intended to serve as a guest house, while the northern one houses the pumping station for the trick fountains of the park.
The central building of the palace has three storeys, with the top floor of the central building set back on the garden side, creating a large terrace. This architectural feature was actually the result of a change in the design after parts of the garden façade collapsed during construction due to an insufficient foundation - a fortunate accident that resulted in a distinctive design element.
The interior of the New Palace is truly imperial in all but name. Among the highlights is the ceremonial sequence of rooms on the upper floor, which begins with the grand Baroque staircase hall - a space that embodies the essence of Baroque grandeur with its sweeping staircases and ornate decoration. The sequence continues with several impressive halls and culminates in the Large Gallery, a magnificent space stretching 57 metres in length with enormous chandeliers and marble consoles.
The rooms contain outstanding examples of furniture design from this period, such as the magnificently carved and gilt console tables from the court workshop of Johann Adam Pichler. Particularly notable are the splendid four-poster imperial beds belonging to the elector and electress, masterpieces of court textile production that have remarkably survived in their original location - a rarity among historical palaces.
Today, the New Palace houses a branch of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, displaying an impressive collection of Baroque paintings with connections to Max Emanuel and his court. This collection is considered one of the largest Baroque-style painting collections in Germany, offering visitors a glimpse into the artistic tastes and patronage of the Bavarian court.
Lustheim Palace
Completing the trio of palaces is the charming Lustheim Palace, a garden villa built in Italian style between 1684 and 1688 by Enrico Zuccalli. This smaller palace was commissioned by Elector Max Emanuel to celebrate his marriage to Maria Antonia, daughter of the Austrian emperor, and serves as a perfect example of a late Baroque pleasure and hunting palace.
Lustheim Palace occupies a unique position within the complex, situated on a circular island at the far end of the Baroque garden. It forms a point de vue, or visual focal point, serving as the conclusion of the garden's main axis. The floor plan of the manor is reminiscent of a stylized H, with two wing-like avant-corps following the central main building. The brick-built and plastered structure has two storeys, with the middle section dominated by a belvedere that provides expansive views of the surrounding countryside.
The centre of the palace is the great hall in the middle section, which is flanked laterally by the apartments of the Elector and Electress. The upper floor contained simple rooms for servants, while the basement housed the kitchen and utility rooms. The interior is dominated by the large banqueting hall with its impressive frescoes created by Johann Anton Gumpp, Francesco Rosa, and Johann Andreas Trubillio.
Lustheim Palace once formed the centre point of a semicircle of round buildings. Two pavilions still exist today: to the south, the Renatus Chapel was erected in 1686 by Zuccalli in the southern pavilion, while the northern pavilion houses a decorated stable that was built for the favourite horses of Elector Max Emanuel.
Since 1968, Lustheim Palace has housed a grand collection of Meissen porcelain, considered the second most important collection of its kind in the world after Dresden's Porcelain Collection in the Zwinger. This exquisite collection showcases pieces from the manufacturer's golden age in the 18th century, offering visitors a glimpse into the refined tastes and artistic achievements of the period.
The Baroque Court Garden
Perhaps the most unique feature of Schleissheim is its magnificent Baroque garden, one of the few court gardens in Europe that has remained virtually unchanged since its creation. While most similar gardens were transformed into landscape gardens during the 19th century, Schleissheim's park has maintained its original Baroque layout and design principles.
The garden's basic structure, including its distinctive canal system, was designed by Henrico Zuccalli and was already in place by 1684. By 1705, the entire bosket area (formal arrangement of trees and shrubs) was completed. From 1715 onwards, the parterre (ornamental flower garden) and cascade were constructed according to plans by Dominique Girard, a pupil of André Le Nôtre, the famous designer of the gardens at Versailles. Under Girard's direction, many high-Baroque refinements were added, and the main axis acquired its striking impression of depth. The central canal, which divides the garden, was a later addition, completed in 1781.
The garden features a harmonious arrangement of formal elements typical of Baroque garden design: manicured hedges, colourful flower beds, fountains, small streams, and statuary. The grand cascade is particularly impressive, creating a dramatic focal point within the garden. The fountains, which operate daily from April to mid-September, add movement and sound to the garden experience.
In 1865, comprehensive reconstruction work was carried out by Carl von Effner to restore and enhance the garden's features. After suffering damage during World War II in 1945, the garden has been gradually restored to its former glory, with the most recent major renovation being the restoration of the cascade in 1999.
The view from the New Palace towards Lustheim Palace, with the central canal stretching between them, creates one of the most spectacular vistas in European garden design. This view is particularly enchanting in the moonlight, when Lustheim Palace stands illuminated at the end of the central axis. Interestingly, the Nymphenburg Palace, another significant Bavarian royal residence, draws water from this central canal for its own fountains and water features, creating a hydraulic connection between these two important sites.
Architectural Significance
The Schleissheim Palace Complex represents one of the most important examples of Baroque architecture in Germany. Its significance lies not only in the individual buildings but in the harmonious relationship between the palaces and the garden, creating a unified artistic ensemble that exemplifies Baroque principles of design and spatial organization.
The New Palace, in particular, showcases the ambition and artistic vision of Elector Max Emanuel. Though scaled back from his original plans, it nevertheless stands as an impressive monument to Baroque architecture, with its emphasis on grandeur, symmetry, and theatrical effect. The ceremonial rooms, with their elaborate decoration and careful sequencing, demonstrate the important role that architecture played in expressing and reinforcing political power and social hierarchy in the Baroque period.
Lustheim Palace, with its more intimate scale and garden setting, represents another aspect of Baroque court life - the desire for pleasure, relaxation, and entertainment away from the formality of the main residence. Its position at the end of the garden axis creates a perfect balance to the New Palace, with the two buildings engaging in a visual dialogue across the expanse of the formal garden.
The Old Palace, despite its earlier Renaissance origins, was incorporated into the overall Baroque concept, demonstrating how successive generations of the Wittelsbach dynasty built upon and adapted the work of their predecessors, creating a complex that tells the story of changing architectural tastes and political ambitions over more than a century.
Artistic Treasures
Beyond its architectural splendour, the Schleissheim Palace Complex houses significant artistic collections that enhance its cultural importance. The New Palace's Baroque Gallery contains one of Germany's largest collections of Baroque paintings, with works that have direct connections to Elector Max Emanuel and his court. This collection offers visitors insight into the artistic patronage of the Bavarian electors and their role in the cultural life of Europe during the Baroque period.
The Meissen porcelain collection housed in Lustheim Palace is of international significance, representing the second most important collection of its kind after Dresden's. The collection showcases pieces from the manufacturer's golden age in the 18th century, when Meissen was at the forefront of European porcelain production. These delicate and exquisitely crafted objects reflect the refined tastes and luxurious lifestyle of European courts during this period.
The Old Palace's exhibitions on religious culture and Prussian history add another dimension to the visitor experience, placing the palace complex within broader cultural and historical contexts. The preservation of the Wilhelmskapelle chapel with its original stucco decoration provides a rare glimpse into the religious art of the early 17th century.
Throughout the palaces, visitors can admire outstanding examples of decorative arts from different periods, including furniture, textiles, paintings, and stuccowork. The four-poster imperial beds in the New Palace are particularly noteworthy as rare examples of court textile production that have survived in their original location - something that seldom occurs in historic palaces due to the fragile nature of textiles and the frequent reorganization of royal residences over the centuries.
Legacy and Preservation
Today, the Schleissheim Palace Complex stands as a testament to the vision and ambition of the Wittelsbach dynasty, particularly Elector Max Emanuel. Though his dreams of imperial status were never realized, he left behind an architectural legacy that continues to impress visitors more than three centuries later.
The preservation of the palace complex has not been without challenges. The Old Palace suffered severe damage during World War II and required extensive reconstruction work beginning in the 1970s. The garden, too, was damaged during the war and has undergone gradual restoration to return it to its Baroque splendour. These preservation efforts reflect the importance placed on maintaining this significant cultural heritage site for future generations.
The Bavarian Palace Administration now manages the complex, ensuring its conservation while making it accessible to the public. Modern technology is also being employed to enhance the visitor experience, with the project "Bayern 3D - Heimat Digital" offering opportunities to digitally experience the palace complex and other important Bavarian cultural assets.
The Schleissheim Palace Complex continues to play a role in contemporary cultural life, hosting classical music concerts that take advantage of the palaces' superb acoustics and atmospheric settings. In the summer months, gondola tours are organized along the Central Canal in the park, allowing visitors to experience the garden from a different perspective. The palace grounds also serve as a venue for special events, including wedding ceremonies and dining tours with picnics in the evening hours.
For those seeking refreshment during their visit, the Schlosswirtschaft Schleissheim offers traditional Bavarian cuisine and a beer garden with views of the palace - a perfect place to relax and reflect on the splendours of this remarkable Baroque ensemble that has stood the test of time as one of Bavaria's most precious cultural treasures.
Getting There
To reach Schleissheim Palace, located approximately 14 km north of central Munich, you have several convenient options. If travelling by car, head via motorways A92 (take the "Oberschleißheim" exit) or A99 (take the "Neuherberg" exit), or alternatively use roads B13 and B471. There are about 120 paid parking spaces available in front of the New Palace. For those preferring public transport, take the S-Bahn line 1 from Munich (direction "Freising/Flughafen") to "Oberschleißheim" station, from where you can either enjoy a 10-15 minute walk to the Old and New Palaces (approximately 30 minutes to Lustheim Palace) or catch bus 295 (Monday-Friday only) or bus 292 to the "Schloss" stop. The palace is open daily except Mondays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (10:00 am to 4:00 pm from October to March), with admission costing 3 € for adults, 2 € for concessions, and free for children under 18.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Schleissheim Palace is between April and September, when the complex operates under extended opening hours from 9 am to 6 pm. During these months, the weather is generally pleasant, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the magnificent Baroque gardens and expansive grounds. However, it is advisable to avoid Mondays, as the palaces are typically closed, except for certain public holidays. The summer months offer ideal conditions for exploring the gardens, which feature beautiful fountains and walking paths. For those interested in guided tours, these can be arranged through local tourism services, providing a comprehensive insight into the palace's history and architecture. Visitors should plan to spend at least half a day exploring the complex, which includes the Old Palace, New Palace, and Lustheim Palace.
