Schloss Nymphenburg – Munich’s Favourite Palace

Nymphenburg Palace is said to be one of the most Beautiful Palaces in Europe:

Schloss Nymphenburg – Munich

Schloss Nymphenburg is one of the favourite Munich attractions, and said to be one of Europe’s most beautiful palaces. This Baroque palace, set in the western part of Munich, was the summer residence of Bavarian monarchs for generations.

A Gift from the Elector to his Wife

Schloss Nymphenburg was a gift from Elector Ferdinand Maria to his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy to celebrate the birth of their son and heir to the throne. The couple had been married for some ten years before Maximilian Emanuel was born in 1662 and one can imagine the sheer delight of the royal family.
Architect Agostino Barelli was appointed to build them a summer residence west of Munich and the original simple cube-shaped building, begun in 1664. The location chosen, in the west of Munich, was surrounded by open countryside and at that time it was still some way out of the city.

The Nymphenburg Name

Since the original construction of Schloss Nymphenburg, five generations of Wittelsbach rulers were involved in the expansion of this stately complex. The palace was dedicated to the pastoral pleasures of the goddess Flora and her nymphs, hence the name ‘Nymphenburg‘.

Palace Attractions

The massive Festsaal (Great Hall), the central room in the palace complex, was decorated in the Rococo style by Johann Baptist Zimmermann and François Cuvilliés the Elder under Elector Max III Joseph. The ceiling fresco on the park side depicts nymphs paying homage to the nymph Flora who has become a goddess.

Schloss Nymphenburg and Gardens

In the southern pavilion is a famous feature of the palace, the “Gallery of Beauties”, painted for King Ludwig I. Joseph Stieler was commissioned by the king to paint this famous series of beautiful women, not only of ladies at the court, but women from all classes of society. Amongst the paintings, the royal favourites were that of Helene Sedlmayr “Schöne Münchnerin” (the Beauty of Munich) who is the daughter of a shoemaker, and the “Spanish” dancer Lola Montez.

Another star attraction at Schloss Nymphenburg is the Amalienburg – this hunting lodge in the Schlosspark is a magnificent example of Rococo style.

Other key attractions that should not be missed include:

• the Marstallmuseum with its collection of carriages that once belonged Bavarian rulers
• the Porcelain Museum, one of the oldest porcelain factories in Europe
• the Museum Mensch und Natur and the Botanical Garden

In the summer months, Schloss Nymphenburg is open from 09:00 – 18:00 and in winter from 10:00 to 16:00.

Schloss Nymphenburg is a venue for regular opera concerts and music and dinner events. The choice of opera concerts range from a night of Mozart to Verdi, Bizet’s Carmen or Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and many others.  So why not treat yourself to a Munich opera concert at this magnificent palace. See what’s on and book concert tickets online here >.

Getting there:

Nymphenburg Park is about 15 minutes from the Munich city centre and is easy to reach by public transport:

– All S-Bahn lines (except no. 7) to “Laim”, then bus no. 51 to the “Schloss Nymphenburg” stop, or
– Underground line U1 to “Rotkreuzplatz”, then tram no. 12 or 17 to the “Schloss Nymphenburg” stop

Map of Munich: Schloss Nymphenburg

Things to do in Munich

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