Nymphenburg Palace - a Baroque pearl of Munich (photo) | Germany Information and Travel Tips

Munich • The Nymphenburg Palace (Schloss Nymphenburg), built in the Baroque era, is considered one of the architectural landmarks of Munich. For centuries it served as the summer residence of the Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria. One of the largest royal residences in Europe. The length of the palace complex from north to south exceeds 630 meters. According to this indicator, it is ahead of even the Versailles Palace in France, following the example of which it was erected. Construction began in 1664 and completed in 1675, but later the palace and park were expanded several times. This is how they look now at different times of the year.

Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. Photos

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German castles on the water
Moritzburg castle
Germany is rich in castles of different eras, and the German word Burg already sounds quite romantic in itself: you can hear the echoes of knightly tournaments and songs of the minnesingers in it. If you add Wasser to it, surrounding the castle with water, you get Wasserburg. There are more than two and a half hundred such water castles in Germany. One of them is Moritzburg near Dresden. He is familiar to many from the movie “Three Nuts for Cinderella”.

German castles on the water
Zatsvay Castle
By the number of castles on the water in Germany, the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia is by far the leader: there are more than a hundred of them. This is explained by the vast flat landscapes, which are rich in rivers, streams and streams, as well as the lack of more suitable places – mountains or rocky cliffs. Perhaps the most famous water castle in this federal state is the medieval Zatzway in the Eifel region.

German castles on the water
Benrath Palace
They were initially defensive in nature. The water was an obstacle holding back the enemies. The bridge in front of the gate was a lift. Water castles did not lose their attractiveness even after, with the development of artillery and siege technology, water ditches lost their protective functions. This hunting castle – or rather, the palace – Benrath was erected near Düsseldorf in the years 1755-1770 in the Rococo style.

German castles on the water
Schwerin Castle
In the Baroque era and later, ditches and ponds finally became elements of landscape architecture, and not fortifications, as it was in the Middle Ages. Schwerin Castle acquired its present appearance in the years 1845-1857 as a result of rebuilding in accordance with the fashion of romantic historicism. The Renaissance castles of France were chosen as role models.

German castles on the water
Fishering Castle
For more contrast, let’s stop near this castle, reminiscent of the times when the thickness of the walls was decisive for their owners, rather than representative architectural delights. Fischering Water Castle in Westphalia is one of the oldest and best-preserved such castles in the Münsterland region. It was founded in the 13th century and was almost rebuilt in the 16th century.

German castles on the water
Schellenburg Castle
Schelenburg Castle, surrounded by this picturesque moat, is one of the oldest castles in the Osnabrück area of Lower Saxony. Its first written mention dates back to 1160. A tower of the Gothic period has been preserved here. This castle acquired its present appearance at the beginning of the 16th century, when after a fire it was partially rebuilt in the Renaissance style.

German castles on the water
Mespelbrunn Castle
Mespelbrunn Castle, located between Frankfurt am Main and Würzburg, is known far beyond this region. It is one of the most visited water castles in Germany. Up to 100 thousand tourists come here annually. The castle was founded in the 15th century by the local princely forester, who received this land as a gift. It is still owned by his descendants.

German castles on the water
Glucksburg Castle
The ancestral home of the Glucksburg dynasty, whose representatives occupy thrones in Denmark and Norway, and were also the kings of Greece before. This castle on the water, founded in 1582, is located in Schleswig-Holstein near the city of Flensburg. It is one of the most important architectural monuments of the Renaissance period in the northern part of Europe. There is a museum in the castle.

German castles on the water
Anholt Castle
It is called the castle – Burg Anholt, although in front of us is a palace. It was founded on this site in Münsterland to protect the ecclesiastical lands of the Utrecht diocese in the 12th century. The present appearance of the Baroque residence acquired at the beginning of the 18th century. It was badly damaged during the Second World War, but was rebuilt. The premises display a collection of paintings by the owners of the castle, numbering over 700 pieces.

German castles on the water
Dick Castle
Surrounded by a triple ring of moats, Dick Castle near Düsseldorf is considered one of the most remarkable water castles in the Rhineland. The first mention is dated 1094. He gained wide popularity thanks to the popular ARD TV series “Forbidden Love”. It acquired its current appearance as a result of restoration after the Thirty Years’ War, in the middle of the 17th century. Surrounded by a beautiful English park.

German castles on the water
Blankenhain Castle
Blankenhain Water Castle is located near the Saxon town of Zwickau. Founded, presumably, in the XII century, for a long time it was part of a knight’s estate. After 1945, the Soviet occupation authorities planned to demolish it, but local residents managed to get this decision reversed. In the premises of the castle and on its territory, there is the German Museum of Agriculture, opened in 1981.

German castles on the water
Gödens Castle
This water castle, located in Friesland in Lower Saxony, is surrounded by a beautiful palace park. It was founded at the beginning of the 17th century and rebuilt after a fire in 1671. The castle and park are used for the spring gardening festival, Christmas market and other events.

German castles on the water
Fürstlich-Dren castle
This picturesque water castle in Fürstlich-Dren is located in an area of the Brandenburg city of Luckau. The residence was built here in the second half of the 16th century. It has survived to this day without significant changes in its appearance. In 1819, a park was laid out around the castle according to the plans of the famous landscape architect Peter Josef Lenne. In 2014, the hotel was reopened in the castle after renovation.

German castles on the water
Burgsteinfurt castle
The bridge and guardhouse at the gate leading to Burgsteinfurt Castle in Steinfurt is the oldest water castle in Westphalia. It was erected on an almost round island, which is formed by the branches of the river. The first written mention of the fortification at this place dates back to 1129. Badly damaged during the Thirty Years’ War. Later it was completely restored and supplemented with new baroque annexes.

German castles on the water
Castle Norderburg
In the castle of Norderburg in the Lower Saxon city of Dornum, there is now a school. This water castle was built in the 14th century as the residence of one of the leaders of the East Frisians. During its history, it has repeatedly changed owners. In 1379, it became the scene of the most famous family drama in the history of East Frisia – with a murdered wife, an insidious mother-in-law and a beheaded father and son.

German castles on the water
Bergedorf Castle
It is the only surviving castle in Hamburg. The first written mention of the Bergedorf water castle dates back to the XIV century, however, as historians assume, the fortification appeared here earlier: at the beginning of the XIII century, simultaneously with the construction of a water mill. For some time it was the seat of the Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg. Now the castle houses a local history museum.

German castles on the water
Bad Rappenau Castle
This water castle was built in Bad Rappenau (Baden-Württemberg) at the very beginning of the 17th century on the site of an older residence of the von Gemmingen knightly family. One of its modern representatives, Eberhard von Gemmingen, was in charge of the German-language editorial office of Radio Vatican in 1982-2009. The castle is now owned by the city and is used for cultural events.

German castles on the water
Hulsede Castle
The Hülsede Water Castle, built between 1529 and 1548, is one of the earliest examples of so-called Weser Renaissance residences in Lower Saxony. Has survived to this day without destruction. For four centuries it has been privately owned by the family that now owns it. Some time ago, a complete restoration was completed, which lasted three decades.

German castles on the water
Eichtersheim Castle
Eichtersheim Water Castle is located about thirty kilometers from Heidelberg. Built in the 16th century, it acquired its present appearance with baroque architectural elements as a result of the reconstruction completed in 1767. Now the castle houses the city administration and a restaurant.

German castles on the water
Hülshoff Castle
The famous German poet and novelist Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1797-1848) was born in this castle. Hülshoff Castle in the Münsterland region has been the seat of this ancient family since 1417. The Renaissance residence is located on two islands connected by a bridge. The castle and park are open to visitors.
Author: Maxim Nelyubin