The Nymphenburg Palace is not only one of the greatest sights in Munich - it also competes with the most beautiful royal palaces in Europe.
And this is also reflected in the visitor numbers: the main palace alone attracts up to 300,000 visitors every year.
Welch’ kunsthistorische Augenweide Sie bei einem Besuch des Schloss Nymphenburg im Westen Münchens erwartet? Und warum Sie den Besuch durchaus zum Tagesausflug ausweiten sollten? Das erklärt Ihnen das Boutique Hotel Atrium in Munich.
Art historical development of today's Nymphenburg Palace and park in Munich West
The creation of the palace is due to the joy of an elector at the birth of his heir to the throne, Max Emanuel: Elector Ferdinand Maria commissioned the palace in 1664 as a gift for his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy. The original country residence was initially designed as a pleasure palace based on Italian country villas.
A generation later, under the heir to the throne Max Emanuel, the garden was extended with symmetrical additions to create a Baroque palace complex. An extensive woodland-like park was added on the west side. In this park, the four pavilion-like park palaces were also symmetrically arranged in their current location. The construction of an elaborate canal system formed the basis for Baroque water features with canals, fountains and fountains.
As the most important summer residence, today's Nymphenburg Palace in Munich was the venue for magnificent festivities. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for example, performed for Elector Max Emanuel at a grand palace gala.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the previous architectural layout of the gardens was redesigned in the English style under the Bavarian Elector. Many natural design elements were added to break up the former Baroque symmetry and create a modern landscape garden. But even today, if you look far into the distance, you can still see the beginnings of the Baroque axial structure.
Since this transformation into a classical landscape garden, the basic structure of the garden and park as it can be admired today has remained almost unchanged.
The charm of the park at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich therefore lies particularly in the continuation of striking characteristics of the garden from previous stylistic periods.
This is what the interior of Nymphenburg Palace in Munich has to offer
The Stone Hall in the Castle Museum
Visit the palace's magnificent banqueting hall, where the host rulers used to give a dignified reception. The impressive rococo stucco work and the imposing ceiling painting have been preserved in their original appearance, transporting you to authentic rooms of the Bavarian monarchy. The ceiling painting of the Olympian heaven of the gods, for example, reflects the ruler's duty to bring and maintain peace.
Marstall Museum
In the south wing of Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, you will find impressive historical state and gala carriages and riding equipment in the former electoral stables. These originate from the court carriage castle and tack room of the Bavarian electors and kings.
Beauty gallery
In addition, in the southern part of Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, there is a gallery of paintings portraying women from different social classes who reflected the ideal of beauty at the time. Among them is a portrait of Lola Montez, a famous lover of King Ludwig I. .
Nymphenburg Porcelain Museum
This exhibition provides an insight into the historical development of the porcelain manufactory with a remarkable number of over 1000 exhibits. Almost 200 years of history can be traced here. The highlight of the exhibition are the works of Franz Anton Bustelli, who is regarded as the most important porcelain artist.
Museum of Man and Nature
The north wing of Munich's Nymphenburg Palace houses exhibits from the State Natural History Collection. These illustrate the history of the earth and life, as well as the role of man as part of and shaper of his environment. Authentic natural objects in their original state, lifelike replicas and interactive exhibits combine to create an exciting and educational museum concept.
Highlights of the park - in summer and winter
Regardless of whether you want to enjoy the extensive park outdoors after a visit to Nymphenburg Palace in Munich West in summer or winter, you will find all kinds of opportunities to do so:
In the southern part of the park at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, you can enjoy the festive season by the large lake. Badenburg to admire. It was originally built as a small bathing castle, which is why there is still a noble bathing hall inside today.
The northern shore of Lake Badenburg is also home to the Temple of Apollo a monopteros with ten columns.
A magnificent sight awaits you at the small Amalienburg . Formerly a hunting lodge, the rococo architecture houses an impressive hall of mirrors.
At the smaller lake in the northern part of the park, the exotic Pagoda Castle attracts attention. Even if the eponymous parallel to an East Asian temple is only revealed inside the castle: Your Chinese salon transports you to an exotic ambience with this architectural treasure.
Even in the secluded wooded area to the north of the palace, visitors to Nymphenburg Palace in Munich come across a small building: the Marienklause a hermitage that was designed as a dilapidated ruin. As such, it was suitable as an escape from the courtly-ceremonial way of life and served the self-mortification of the Bavarian rulers, i.e. voluntary deprivation for the sake of a higher good.
In summer, you also have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful view of the palace on a romantic gondola ride on the Nymphenburg Middle Canal. The colorful flowers planted symmetrically in the garden arrangement really make it shine.
Winter transforms the graceful palace grounds into a fairytale gem with a white blanket of snow. The park at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich is a wonderful place for a stroll in a contemplative winter atmosphere. If the canal is frozen deep and solid for a long time, it is a special highlight for winter sports enthusiasts who enjoy the cold season with ice skating, ice hockey or curling.
Nymphenburg Palace in Munich
Should you have a Book a hotel in Municha visit to Nymphenburg Palace in the west of Munich will certainly not disappoint you. On the contrary: the imposing palace complex combines with the extensive park to form an architecturally and scenically designed work of art. This will transport you visually and atmospherically back to the days of the Bavarian monarchy.
Photo © Matthias - stock.adobe.com
