What you'll hear
A walk through the summer residence of Bavaria's electors and kings: from the Schlossrondell and the main palace with its Steinerner Saal and Gallery of Beauties to the carriages of Ludwig the Second and the hidden pavilions of the park – Pagodenburg, Badenburg, the ruin-hermitage and the rococo jewel of the Amalienburg. About two and a half hours at a leisurely pace, including interiors. For anyone who loves palaces, gardens and Wittelsbach stories; most of the route runs through the park, so it suits families too. Interiors require a ticket; the park pavilions (Amalienburg, Badenburg, Pagodenburg, Magdalenenklause) are closed from the sixteenth of October to the end of March and can only be seen from outside in winter.
On the way
Canal and Schlossrondell
We are at the eastern edge of the Nymphenburg ensemble, on the semicircular Schlossrondell, which offers the grandest view of the palace. From here we walk along the avenue beside the canal straight to the main building, about five to seven minutes at an easy pace. Let's look at the long, straight ribbon of water that runs from us directly…
Main Palace and Steinerner Saal
We are standing in front of the main building of Nymphenburg, by the great fountain, and behind the tall windows at the centre lies the Steinerner Saal, the Stone Hall. After looking at the façade and the hall, we follow the museum route inside the palace into the south wing, to the Gallery of Beauties. Now the whole palace is…
Gallery of Beauties and Ludwig the Second's Birth Room
We are in the south pavilion of the palace, in the former apartments of the queen, where the portraits of beauties hang and where a future king was born. Leaving the palace, we turn right towards the south wing and in a couple of minutes reach the former stables, now home to the Marstallmuseum. Thirty-six women look down at us…
Marstallmuseum and Nymphenburg Porcelain
We are in the Marstallmuseum, in the former court stables: downstairs the coaches and sleighs await us, and one floor up is the collection of Nymphenburg porcelain. From here we go out into the park, cross the garden parterre behind the palace and follow the avenues into the northern part of the park, to the Magdalenenklause, about ten to twelve…
Magdalenenklause
Among the trees in front of us stands the Magdalenenklause, a hermitage built on purpose as a ruin. Next we follow the paths westwards to the Pagodenburg lake and the little pavilion on its shore, about ten minutes. Let's take a closer look at this strange building in the thicket. Cracked brick walls, crumbling plaster, as if time had long…
Pagodenburg
We are on the shore of the Pagodenburg lake, by the small two-storey pavilion where the elector rested after his walks. Now we head out to the central canal and follow it westwards right to its start at the Große Kaskade, about eight to ten minutes. The Pagodenburg was built around seventeen sixteen to seventeen nineteen for Max Emanuel, to…
Große Kaskade
We are at the western end of the central canal, where the Große Kaskade roars and the view opens across the whole park to the palace. From here we turn south and take the woodland paths to the Badenburg lake, about ten minutes. We have reached the western edge of the park, where the water tumbles noisily down marble steps.…
Badenburg
We are at the Badenburg, the elector's bathing pavilion on the shore of the largest lake in the park. Now we walk east through the southern part of the park to the Amalienburg, about twelve minutes. The Badenburg, the bathing castle, was built around seventeen eighteen to seventeen twenty-two to plans by Joseph Effner. Its greatest treasure lies inside: a…
Amalienburg
We are at the Amalienburg, the hunting lodge tucked away in the southern part of the park not far from the palace. From here we walk a few minutes north to the garden parterre behind the palace, where our route will end. In front of us is the Amalienburg, a small hunting lodge regarded as one of the high points…
Free Walk
Our route has come to an end, and we are standing once more by the garden façade of the palace, among the statues of the parterre. Now the park is all ours: we can go back to a favourite pavilion, stroll along the lakes or simply sit by the canal, and it is almost impossible to get lost here, because…
