Â鶹APP

Würzburg, Residence, southern garden side.JPG Photo by Dguendel –

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Wurzburg Residence Palace and Court Gardens

The Wurzburg residence is a palace in Wurzburg, Germany. Robert de Cotte and Germain Boffrand were involved in the construction, they were followers of the french style. The Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo was assisted by his son and painted frescoes in the building.

The interior architecture and art include the grand staircase, the chapel, and the Imperial Hall, the building is the largest personage in Europe. However, it was heavily damaged during a bombing in World War II, restoration has been in progress since 1945. 

Since 1981, the residence’s ownership has been under UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its outstanding Baroque art, design, and architecture. The palace represents a unique artistic realization by virtue.

With four floors a high ceiling and an upper floor with a mezzanine floor above each. The residence has almost 400 rooms including administrative offices. Thus the total construction cost of 1.5 million. Many people that the construction would never come to an end due to the fact that it was left on hold multiple times.

1. Unique Detail

The staircase had importance as part of a formal reception room. With a Baroque style and has an unsupported trough vault with a maximum height of 23 meters.

The famous white hall is dominated by stucco decorations of Antonio Bossi, with works on a light gray background that are composed of a large number of rocailles. The lack of gold makes the eye rest between the splendors of the staircase and five crystal chandeliers.

The imperial hall is located in the center of the garden front. The walls of the Imperial Hall consist of marble in shades of red, white, and yellow, while the dome is painted in the color white which is meant to idealize the history of Wurzburg.

2. The Court Chapel

The chapel is a prime example of the sacral Baroque style, the interior is dominated by curving walls and three oval vaults. The columns of the two side altars and six statues are made of white marble, and the designs of the side altars are based on Hildebrandt’s designs. 

The high altar was created to look like marble by Antonio Bossi, with a statue of the Immaculate Conception in the center. The sides have oratories and colorful stucco work on the ceiling. 

3. The Beautiful Court Gardens

An den Brunnen im Residenzgarten Würzburg. 01.jpg Photo by Holger Uwe Schmitt –

The palace was built when Wurzburg was still a fortified town, the garden had to be planned within the fortifications. The style changes to an English garden with small forests and meadows, the designs were made by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, Neumann, and Francois de Cuvilles. 

The figures were added to the park under the inspiration of Prince- Bishop Adam Friedrich von Sinsheim who had his park similarly decorated. There are three monumental gates that lead to the court gardens that were commissioned by Friedrich Karl von Schonborn.

4. Tourists In The Palace

Wurzburg Residence 07.jpg Photo by Krzysztof Golik –

The gardens and rooms are open to the public, the memorial room however is dedicated to the Residence’s destruction. It also honors Major John Davis Skilton who was instrumental in preserving many of the art treasures. 

In 2011, the film Three Musketeers was filmed at the residence.

5. The History of The Residence

In 1730, the actual work on the south block began once more, from then on the work on the central building took place. Until 1742, the completion of the vaulted ceilings over the Emperor’s Hall and the White hall took place. 

When the Prince-Bishop died, all building work on the residence ceased until 1749 when Karl Phillipp became Prince-Bishop. In the same year, Antonio Bossi the stucco work was completed.

With the hard work of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo who was assisted by his sons to decorate the Imperial Hall and the ceiling above the staircase. The Tuscany Rooms were decorated in Empire style making them perfect and in theme with all the other rooms.

Emperor Napoleon slept in the residence three times between 1806 and 1813 and during that time, he declared the place the largest parsonage in Europe.

In 1814, the residence became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.

6. Southern and Northern Imperial Apartments

Würzburg Residence (7291670490).jpg Photo by julie corsi –

The rooms served as reception halls and accommodation for important guests, the impact of the apartments is generated by a sequence of rooms with increasing levels of decorations. 

In the southern apartment, the walls consist of glass panels that are decorated on the back using either painting to drawings that are engraved into a gold ground. The paintings and drawings show potential scenes. 

The Nothern apartments highlight the green lacquered room. It has multilayered wall coverings that consist of metallic green colors that are decorated with paintings and golden ornaments.

7. Ownership of The Palace

Johann Philipp Franz von Schonoborn won a sum of 600,000 in a court case and he used the funds to undertake a building project that would proclaim his political standing to all.

With the support of his relatives who supplied ideas. His successor Christoph Franz von Hutten had no great interest in such an enormous palace, his main interest was to finish the northern block.

The palace was under the ownership of the Bavarian Administration since its groundbreaking in 1720.

8. Palace Fame

The ceiling fresco in the staircase has been labeled as the largest fresco in the world. The ceiling depicts four continents that are personified by regal female figures, while at the center is a picture of Apollo.

His image is orbited by deities representing the planets. However, the depiction of Europe can only be seen after the viewer has turned on the first flight of stairs. In the picture, it is described as the continent of arts and culture and Wurzburg is at the center. 

9. Synthesis of The Arts

Storage – Würzburg Residence gardens – Würzburg, Germany – DSC05941.jpg Photo by Daderot –

The palace combined all the inspiration from other similar structures. The result was a success that was later going to be famous. The interior is the finest of its age and the most amazing art by far. 

Three generations of artists and artisans from all over Europe were able to produce the variation of the Rocco style. 

10. War Damage

In 1945, there was devastating air raid destroyed 90% of the Wurzburg old town as for the residence, it was completely burnt out. The fire ate down through the wooden ceilings and floors and all the furnishings. 

Even the roofs were gone further damage was incurred in the ensuing period due to dampness. However, this wasn’t the end of the palace, it was greatly rebuilt into the magnificent building that stands today.