Residence in Würzburg - stunning German baroque palace

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | The Würzburg Residence is a stunning Baroque palace, considered one of the finest examples of opulent German Baroque. Large parts of the palace were destroyed during World War II, but have been rebuilt to their original glory. Here you can see, among other things, the world's largest ceiling fresco.

The residence in Würzburg

Since 1981, the Residence in Würzburg, together with the Hofgarten and Residenzplatz, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The residence is well worth a visit. You can stroll through the ”Hofgarten” garden, peek into the sumptuous ”Hofkirche” church and take a guided tour through 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

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.

READ MORE: Things to do in Würzburg - 12 sights and experiences

Where can I park my motorhome?

We visited Würzburg by camper and were at Wohnmobilparkplatz an der Friedensbrücke at Dreikronenstrasse. The location is very good, less than a kilometer from the center, and here you will find electricity, fresh water and the possibility of emptying gray water. Check current prices and conditions before your visit.