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GERMANY | Eastern Bavaria, Germany Travel Guide
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
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Schloss Thurn und Taxis
Schloss Thurn und Taxis
From the mid-15th century to the 19th century, the Thurn und Taxis family held a postal monopoly in much of Europe. The horn used by many European countries as symbol of the postal service originates from the family emblem. From 1748, the head of the family was also the emperor’s principal representative (Prinzipalkommissäre) at the Permanent Diet. The former Benedictine monastery of St Emmeram was converted into one of Europe’s most modern and lavish palaces for their use. It is still the principal seat of the family. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the palace frequently featured in the local gossip columns for the lavish parties that were held there. Inheritance taxes forced the family to open parts of the palace to the public.
St Emmeramskirche (St Emmerammus’ Church), Emmeramsplatz 3, is a basilica dating back to the late seventh century when the region was converted to Christianity. Most of the exterior is Romanesque and Gothic. The statues at the main entrance of Jesus Christ, St Emmerammus, and St Dionysius are 11th century and among the oldest sculptures in Germany. The interior is a bit of a surprise – the Asam brothers altered the original Romanesque into Baroque with frescos and stucco work. Despite their efforts, the highest art here is still the sculpted tombstone of Queen Hemma from 1280. The crypt dates from AD 740.
Fürsterliches Schloss Thurn und Taxis (Thurn und Taxis Palace), Emmeramsplatz 5, is still the principal residence of the family. Three sections are open to visitors but only on guided tours. The tour of the Schlossmuseum (Palace Museum) includes the state apartments, the ball and throne rooms, and other rooms converted by the family in the 19th century into the Historicist style. The Kreuzgang (Cloisters) of the former monastery can be seen as part of the palace tour, or separately. The cloisters are a Romanesque-Gothic combination erected between the 11th and 14th centuries. The Marstall Museum houses more than 70 coaches that were used by the Thurn und Taxis postal service.
The Thurn und Taxis Museum, Emmerams platz 5, houses artwork from the family and the Bavarian National Museum. Highlights include goldsmith work, clocks, porcelain, glass, and furniture, mainly from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Last updated April 9, 2012
Posted in Germany | Eastern Bavaria
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