Resurrected baroque splendor
Bruchsal Palace is the only baroque prince-bishop palace situated on the Upper Rhine. It is primarily famous for its impressive stairway designed by the great architect Balthasar Neumann as the “crown of all baroque-style stairways”. Since 2017, the luxurious rooms of the prince-bishops on the Bel Étage with their exquisite decor have again become accessible to the public. Another highlight is the collection of valuable tapestries, one of the largest in Europe.
The miracle of reconstruction
The Prince-Bishops of Speyer, the discerning 18th century builders of the palace, really had taste. They invited famous artists to Bruchsal. When you enter the great courtyard of Bruchsal Palace, the many buildings of the palace complex present themselves once more in their typical vibrant color. In fact, the recent history of Bruchsal Palace is more than dramatic: badly damaged in the Second World War, reconstruction began directly after the war. The perfect reconstruction of the middle tract is little short of miraculous. Today the palace will delight you once more with its playful elegance. Walking through the palace, you can re-experience the baroque art of the setting, say, by ascending the famous stairs from the low-key lighting of the entrance with the Grotto Halls up to the gleaming rococo-decorated rooms of the banqueting halls. In the 18th century, the palace was famous throughout Europe for its elegance. Mozart stayed here several times – the first time during his travels as a child prodigy at the age of seven!
Tapestries and furniture. Treasures of the palace
The 18th century collections of the prince-bishops are simply magnificent. Since the spring of 2017, they are now on display again. A total of 38 tapestries alone – precious wall hangings – adorn the rooms. The collection is one of the largest in Europe. The elaborate artistic furniture from the time of the prince-bishops is of the highest quality, including pieces by the famous artistic carpenter Röntgen. Comparable items can only be seen in major museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum. The Museum for Mechanical Music Instruments is great fun for everybody. It houses an amazing collection of barrel organs and automatic machines – including the great organ ordered for the Titanic: the only reason it has been preserved is because it was not made ready in time.
Bruchsal Palace (Schloss Bruchsal)
Schlossraum 4
76646 Bruchsal
Phone +49(0)72 51.74 26 61
info@schloss-bruchsal.de
