The Residence in Würzburg is a stunning Baroque palace, and is considered one of the finest examples of sumptuous German Baroque. Much of the palace was destroyed during World War II, but has been rebuilt to its original splendour. Here you can see the largest ceiling fresco in the world.
Table of contents
The residence in Würzburg
The Residence in Würzburg is well worth a visit. You can stroll through the "Hofgarten" garden, peek into the sumptuous "Hofkirche" church and take a guided tour of the beautiful halls and rooms.

The Würzburg Residence is located in the centre of Würzburg, in the north-western part of Bavaria.
The Residence in Würzburg - an 18th century palace affected by the war
The construction of the Residence in Würzburg was begun for the Prince-Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn by the then young and unknown artist Balthasar Neumann (1687-1735). The building was constructed between 1720 and 1744 and the interior was completed in 1780. The cost of construction was around 1.5 million florins, at a time when one (1) florin was equivalent to a week's wages for an ordinary labourer. A huge amount of money in other words!
The interior of the Residence in Würzburg was one of the most beautiful and impressive of its time. Unfortunately, 90% of Würzburg's Old Town was destroyed in a devastating air raid on 16 March 1945, just weeks before the end of World War II. The residence was largely burnt out, and only the core was saved.
Much of the furniture had been stored elsewhere, and thus saved. It was decided to restore the residence and recreate the destroyed rooms as far as possible. The reconstruction cost around €20 million and was completed in 1987. This work is also hugely impressive!

The "Hofgarten" garden
At the Residence in Würzburg is the beautiful garden 'Hofgarten'. The garden was created by the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg, Adam Friedrich von Seinsheim, who reigned from 1755 to 1779. To realise the project, the garden artist Johann Prokop Mayer (1735-1804) was hired as the new court gardener.



The garden is beautiful, and we loved the pond surrounded by eight yew trees. In each tree you'll find a little character!


Guided tour of the Residence in Würstburg
We naturally wanted to see the inside of the beautiful Würstburg Residence, and it turned out that there are guided tours in English twice a day. Nice! Our international group (with tourists from Europe, India and Mexico) had a very interesting and fascinating tour.
Please note that not is allowed to photograph or film inside the palace, without special permission. We have applied for permission to photograph and display the photos here on freedomtravel.se, and have been granted permission in writing. So, stay tuned!

One of the main attractions of the palace is the mighty staircase, above which you can see the enormous fresco, made by the Venetian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in 1752-1753. The fresco is the largest ceiling fresco ever painted and occupies about 600 square metres.
The fresco depicts Würzburg and Europe as well as the exotic continents of America, Asia and Africa. Amazingly, the stairwell and the fresco survived the bombing raids during World War II.



Another hall that survived the bombs is the White Hall, decorated with stunning stuccoes from 1744-1745.

Another fantastic hall is the Imperial Hall. Again, there are fantastic ceiling frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, as well as creative decorations that sometimes combine painting and sculpture.


Once the guided tour of the most important rooms is over, you can wander around the palace on your own, more or less open-mouthed. There are endlessly impressive rooms, such as the Cabinet of Mirrors. This was completely destroyed during the bombing, but thanks to saved fragments and a detailed painting, they have managed to recreate this marvel of a room.



Many of the rooms have beautiful and richly decorated tiled stoves and furniture.


There are also plenty of tapestries, which tell the story of people, events and emotions.

It is exciting to look at all the details, from furniture to watches.


In one part of the palace, there is a beautiful modern exhibition about the devastation of the Second World War and the efforts to restore the palace to its former glory. It is not only the 18th century craftsmen who are impressive, but also those who worked in our time with advanced craftsmanship.

The "Hofkirche" church
Last but not least, you won't want to miss seeing the "Hofkirche" church, which was inaugurated in 1743. Even though the church is small, it is a masterpiece, and incredibly impressive with all the decorations and paintings.

Video from Würzburg garden
Video from Würzburg Castle
More to see and do in Würzburg and Germany
Once you're done with the residence in Würzburg, there is of course more to see and discover in this city. Above all, you won't want to miss the beautiful 'Alte Mainbrücke' bridge and the Marienberg fortress, which offers great views of the city.

Excursions among Germany's lakes
The 'Beach Basket Challenge' campervan trip continues, and it was time for the seven campervans on the trip/competition to...
6 picturesque towns in Germany - along holiday routes
If you like picturesque cities, Germany is the place for you. In Germany there are plenty of...
Oktoberfest in Germany - and other German folk festivals
Who doesn't want to experience Oktoberfest in Germany? We've gathered everything you need to know to...
Adventure with a motorhome in Schleswig-Holstein
Our motorhome adventure with a total of seven motorhomes, the 'Beach Basket Challenge', has started with a first day in the German...
Hofgarten Eremitage in Bayreuth - amazing park in Bavaria
The Hofgarten Eremitage in Bayreuth is a large and incredibly beautiful park filled with castles, fountains,...
Bad Segeberg - Karl May Spiele and bat cave
Bad Segeberg inland, where we travelled to visit the "Karl May Spiele" ...
Fairytale castle in Germany - Neuschwanstein in Bavaria
Fairytale castle in Germany - Neuschwanstein in Germany is located in south-west Bavaria on the border with Austria. Disney designed...
10 magical castles in Germany you won't want to miss
Today we're sharing 10 magical castles and palaces in Germany that feel like they are...
Steinau an der Strasse - with the Brothers Grimm house
Steinau an der Strasse is a small German town that is best known for its...
Wörlitzer Park in Germany - Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom
Wörlitzer Park is part of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Kingdom, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to...
Nude baths in Germany - Friedrichsbad in Baden Baden
Nude swimming in Germany? Yes, why not? Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden is a traditional bath with a long history of...
Holiday with children or grandchildren in Germany
Thinking about a holiday with your children or grandchildren in Germany? The country offers everything from...
Thale in the Harz - among witches and devil walls
Thale in the German Harz Mountains - you come here to experience dramatic scenery, mixed with...
Sweden in Germany - 12 places with a Swedish connection
There is more of Sweden in Germany than you might realise. In fact, you...
Potsdam in Germany - and Sanssouci Castle
Potsdam in Germany and Sanssouci Palace offered a positive surprise. In Potsdam there are buildings with...
Wine festivals in Germany - experience autumn wine festivals
Wine festivals are currently taking place in Germany and will continue throughout October and November. If you are...
Things to do in Hann. Münden - 10 tips for a crochet dream
What to do in Hann. Münden in Germany? This small town is a fantastic place to...
Which ferries run from Sweden to Germany? - 5 options
Which ferries go from Sweden to Germany? We have travelled many times from Sweden to Germany...
Moritzburg Castle near Dresden - a fairytale hunting lodge
Moritzburg Castle near Dresden is a beautiful and fabulous hunting and baroque castle, well worth a visit....
Ostsee camping in northern Germany - and party with the gang
We have, together with eleven other motorhomes, spent three nights at the Ostsee camping in Zierow outside...
Miniatur Wunderland - the largest model railway in the world
Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg showcases the world's largest model railway. Prepare yourself for floor after floor of...
Rügen Island in the Baltic Sea - Germany's riviera
The island of Rügen is a beach paradise in northern Germany, with chalk-white cliffs and charming holiday resorts. We have...
By motorhome in the beautiful Moselle Valley in Germany
Now we have moved on with the motorhome to the beautiful Moselle Valley in Germany. We are slowly...
What to do in Quedlinburg - 12 tips for a cute half-timbered town
What to do in Quedlinburg, Germany? This city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for...
Things to do in Hamburg - 23 sights and experiences
What to do in Hamburg? This northern German city offers harbour life, boat trips, culture and the world's...
Active holiday in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - 8 things to do
Did you know that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, located on the German Baltic Sea coast, offers plenty of opportunities for...
The half-timbered road in Germany - a cosy holiday route
The half-timbered road in Germany is a wonderfully cosy holiday route. This is a perfect route to follow for...
Tour of Northern Germany - take a 'Beach Basket' trip
In May this year we travelled around northern Germany together with 6 other motorhomes,...
Germany welcomes motorhomes (and Sweden imposes a ban)
During this trip we spent almost two months in Germany with our motorhome. As...
Things to do in Goslar - 11 tips for a historic town in Germany
What to do in Goslar? This German town is a charming and historic little gem,...

Where can I park my motorhome?
There are several different sites in Würzburg. We chose to park at the place called Peace Bridge, located at Dreikronenstrasse 2. This was a really good place we thought!
The location is excellent for visiting the city and the "real" car parks, which also have access to electricity, are nicely situated on the river Main. If you can't fit in here, there are plenty of car parks behind, where you can also park.

Have you visited the Residence in Würzburg?
Have you visited the Residence in Würzburg? What do you think about this type of attraction?
Facts about the residence in Würzburg
- Address: Residenzpl. 2, Würzburg
- City: Würzburg
- Federal Republic of Germany: Bavaria
- Country: Germany
- Read more: You can find more information at the castle's website
Services and practical information
- Opening hours: April-October the castle is open daily 9-18, and during November-March the castle is open daily 10-16:30 (2022). Please note that the castle is closed on certain public holidays. The garden is open until dusk (no later than 20:00).
- Prices: EUR 9/adult, EUR 8/person with discount and free for children up to 18 years old (2022). The garden and church are free to visit.
- Guided tours: The price includes one guided tour. Currently (June 2022), guided tours in English are given twice a day, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Guided tours in German are given every 20 minutes in the summer and twice an hour in the low season.
- Rules: No photography or filming is allowed inside the castle without special authorisation. Large bags are also not allowed, but there are lockable lockers.
Ann says:
But what magical architecture!
14 June 2022 - 11:49
BP says:
Am I the only one who thinks that the exterior and partly the interior of the Residence is reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles?
What an impressive building. Pretty amazing that they rebuilt the Residence.
14 June 2022 - 20:23
Lena - good for the soul says:
What a place! Amazingly impressive. A staggering cost in relation to labourers' wages!
A place to remember!
Hug Lena
27 September 2022 - 12:36