Bruchsal Palace is the only baroque palace of its kind on the Upper Rhine. It is especially famous for its impressive staircase, created by architect Balthasar Neumann.
With its renowned staircase and stunning banquet halls, Bruchsal Palace invites guests to experience the splendor of artful baroque staging at its best. The palace’s Court of Honor promises an almost overwhelming first impression of color, cheer, and charm; everything is richly painted and decorated with gilded stucco. Shiny, gold dragons adorn the rooftops, and even the gargoyles are a mirror of baroque fantasy. The Prince-Bishops of Speyer had high standards and made a point to commission the leading artists of their time, like the famous architect Balthasar Neumann, whose employment resulted in no less than one of the most important baroque staircases in southern Germany.
Bruchsal Palace was rebuilt after its destruction in WWII – a truly masterful artistic and artisanal feat of the last 60 years. Visitors can go on guided tours and discover how the palace operated in former times from the perspectives of both the Prince-Bishop and the servants. Children get to be princes and princesses for a day, giving parents the chance to make their next birthday a celebration like no other. The palace garden is a delightful park done in the style of an English landscape garden and offers a quiet, green oasis in the middle of the bustling city.
Highlights
- Events around the palace: Stylish garden fair, Christmas market
- Regular exhibitions focusing on contemporary art and unique topics
- Permanent exhibition dedicated to the palace reconstruction
- German Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments: Featuring instruments from up until the 1920s
- Städtisches Museum: Presents regional history from since the Stone Age
Other characteristics: bus parking, exhibition/museum, restaurant, wheelchair accessible restroom, barrier-free: stroller and wheelchair accessible