Schloss Augustusburg

Schloss Augustusburg

A visit to Cologne will remain incomplete if you do not visit the Schloss Augustusburg. This 18th century Rococo castle, which took almost 40 years to be completed, is really a place worth visiting. Take a train from Cologne and you will be at Schloss Augustusburg, Cologne within ten minutes. In 1725, Elector Clemens August ordered the Augustusburg Castle to be built over the ruins of the water fortress that was destroyed in 1689. It was first built according to the plans of architect Johann Conrad Schlaun. It is said that Clemens August chose this site because of two reasons. Firstly, the beautiful surroundings and secondly it was a convenient location to pursue his passion for falconry.

Conrad Schlaun was dismissed after some time and Francois de Cuvillies was commissioned for the work. He had a new plan in place in 1728 and started altering the Castle Augustusburg, Cologne. His plan changed this Rococo castle to a modern residence. The staircase of this building was designed by the famous architect Balthasar Neumann. Though he began the work it was completed by the court architect Michael Leveilly and his team. The painting of the ceilings, frescoes of the staircase, the rooms and the Nepomuk chapel was done by Carlo Carlone during the years 1747-1750.

Clemens August did not remain alive to see the finished castle. It was finished during his successor Elector Max Friedrich von Königsegg’s time. It was finally completed in 1769, 40 years after the work was commissioned.

After the French Revolution, Augustusburg Castle came under the French troops who ransacked all the furniture. It is said that even Napoleon wished that he could have taken away the castle to France.

In 1815 the Prussians took the castle and King Friedrich Wilhelm IV saved the building from dilapidation. He himself stayed here in 1842 and ordered renovation of the rooms. It was again used as residence by Emperor Wilhelm I.

World War II caused major damages to this beautiful castle. The North wing was almost destroyed by a bomb in 1944 and in 1945 the main wing was hit by artillery. But, repairs also began in the same year, and the Schloss Augustusburg, Cologne was restored completely again. Now, the Augustusburg Castle is the property of the government of North Rhine-Westfalia and the German President’s representative seat.

Best time to visit the Schloss Augustusburg, Colonge is during summer, i.e. from May to August, when the annual “Brühler Schlosskonzerte”, a concert, takes place in the castle. It is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9a.m.-12.30 p.m. and again from 1:30 – 5p.m. In Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays the time is from10:00 AM – 6p.m.

Book Cologne hotels now