Baden-Württemberg: 300 years Bruchsal Castle: Land promises preservation

Bruchsal (dpa/lsw) - One of the best-known baroque palaces in the southwest is celebrating its 300th birthday: on May 27, 1722, Prince Bishop Damian Hugo von Schönborn laid the foundation stone for Bruchsal Palace.

Baden-Württemberg: 300 years Bruchsal Castle: Land promises preservation

Bruchsal (dpa/lsw) - One of the best-known baroque palaces in the southwest is celebrating its 300th birthday: on May 27, 1722, Prince Bishop Damian Hugo von Schönborn laid the foundation stone for Bruchsal Palace. It is well known for its staircase by Balthasar Neumann. The castle is also a symbol of home, according to Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz (Greens). "We will ensure that this jewel among castles is preserved," he promised on Tuesday at the anniversary celebration.

Until Sunday there is a festival week with a castle market in the courtyard, free entry to the castle at the weekend and a castle festival with eight concerts from July 28th to August 7th.

The complex with over 50 individual buildings was almost completely destroyed in the Second World War. It was rebuilt in stages. The conclusion in 2017 was the historical restoration of the bel etage. 350 masterpieces of courtly art from the 18th and early 19th centuries can be seen in the palace, including one of the largest collections of valuable tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The former residence of the Prince Bishops of Speyer has around 100,000 visitors a year. Today, several state authorities, museums and the headquarters of the state palaces and gardens of Baden-Württemberg reside here.