With Nymphenburg, Munich boasts a magnificent Baroque palace with extensive park grounds, which is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. But there’s another palace in our city that bears a striking resemblance to Nymphenburg and that doesn’t normally welcome visitors. If you’re not yet familiar with Fürstenried Palace or have always wondered what it looks like inside, you should mark September 13 on your calendar. That’s Open Monument Day, when the palace will, as a special exception, open its doors to interested guests. So take advantage of this unique opportunity and let yourself be guided through the Baroque palace and its gardens.
Max Emanuel’s Hunting Lodge
Fürstenried Palace has been around for more than three centuries. Starting in 1715, Elector Max Emanuel had the local manor house converted into a hunting lodge for himself in what is now the Fürstenried district. The master builder in charge was Joseph Effner, who was also involved in the construction of Nymphenburg Palace and the complex in Schleißheim.
It’s therefore hardly surprising that Fürstenried Palace resembles Nymphenburg on the outside, which earned it the nickname “Little Nymphenburg.” Both palaces were connected by a kilometer-long avenue—today’s Fürstenrieder Straße. Another impressive avenue was laid out all the way to the village of Mittersendling, lending the Baroque building an exceptionally stately appearance.
Starting in 1881, the ailing Otto of Bavaria lived in the palace and remained there until his death. As a result, Fürstenried Palace became the seat of the Bavarian king in 1886, after Ludwig II died and the throne passed to Otto. After Otto also died in 1916, Fürstenried Castle was first converted into a military hospital and later into a retreat center. It continues to serve this purpose today, while also functioning as a conference hotel and venue for seminars.
Fürstenried Palace on Open Monument Day
Normally, there are no guided tours at Fürstenried Palace, and you can only visit it during conferences. That’s why you should take advantage of this unique opportunity on Open Monument Day to walk through the halls just as the Bavarian king once did. Between 12:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., you can join guided tours of the interior and the park. In fact, the interior is now largely quite plain, and not much remains of its former splendor. Nevertheless, the tour offers fascinating insights into the building’s history .
You’ll also get to see the beautiful garden with its bronze arbors and many linden trees. A faun sculpture sits atop the monumental fountain, and in the summer, the magnificent rose garden is in full bloom. In addition, you can take a guided tour of the palace’s own apiary. Tours take place every half hour, and you must register in advance via the Fürstenried Palace website. After your tour, you can enjoy coffee, cake, and hot meals at the food stands.
📍 Location: Fürstenried Palace, Forst-Kasten-Allee 103
📅 Date: Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; guided tours starting at noon
💶 Price information: Free
