Nymphenburg Palace: Visiting Munich Baroque Summer Residence

On the western edge of Munich, Schloss Nymphenburg was the summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria and is one of the grandest baroque palaces in Germany. Begun in the seventeenth century and extended by successive generations, its long pale facade stretches across formal gardens and a canal, and it remains one of the city most visited landmarks.

Inside, the highlight is the Steinerner Saal, a soaring stone hall decorated with frescoes and stucco that runs through the centre of the building. Elsewhere the palace houses the Gallery of Beauties, a collection of portraits commissioned by King Ludwig I, along with staterooms, a museum devoted to the royal carriages and sleighs, and a porcelain collection reflecting the Nymphenburg manufactory that still bears the palace name.

The park behind the palace is as much of an attraction as the interiors. Laid out first in the formal French manner and later softened into an English landscape garden, it contains woodland, lakes and several small pavilions. The Amalienburg, a rococo hunting lodge with a famous mirrored hall, is widely regarded as one of the finest rooms of its kind in Europe, and the Badenburg and Pagodenburg pavilions reward a longer walk.

Getting to Nymphenburg is straightforward. A tram from the city centre stops within a short walk of the palace forecourt, and the grounds are a pleasant place to arrive on foot or by bicycle. The park is open to the public without charge, while the palace interiors and the individual pavilions require tickets.

Opening hours differ between the summer and winter seasons, and some pavilions in the park close over the colder months. For current opening times and admission prices, including combined tickets that cover the palace and the park buildings together, the official Nymphenburg website is the best source to check before a visit.