Augustusburg Palace, Brühl
Schloss Augustusburg
The rococo palace of the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne. Neumann’s staircase hall is a masterpiece of German rococo, and the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Augustusburg Palace lies in Brühl, about 15 km south of Cologne. It was built in the 18th century by Elector and Archbishop of Cologne Clemens August, and together with the nearby Falkenlust hunting lodge it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1984, one of the earliest in Germany. The palace’s highlight is the grand staircase hall designed by Balthasar Neumann, where marble, stucco and ceiling paintings create an extravagant rococo effect. The French baroque garden in front is open free of charge, with orderly flower beds. From the end of the war until the 1990s, the palace served as a venue for the West German president to host state guests. The interior can only be visited with a guided tour (about 1 hour). It is closed in winter (roughly December to February) and on Mondays. From Cologne Central Station, take a regional train for about 15 minutes to Brühl station; the palace is right outside.
Opening hours
About Feb–Nov: Tue–Fri 09:00–12:00 and 13:30–16:00, weekends 10:00–17:00; closed in winter and on Mondays (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Phantasialand
- Hahnentorburg
- Belgian Quarter
- Rheinauhafen & Crane Houses
- Romano-Germanic Museum
- Schildergasse & Hohe Straße
- St. Maria im Kapitol
- Chocolate Museum