Barockschloss Mannheim

About the museum

After Elector Carl Philipp moved his court from Heidelberg to Mannheim in 1720, he had a new residence built there. Over some four decades, until around 1760, a symmetrical three-wing complex with far-reaching side wings took shape; those involved included Jean Clemens Froimon, Guillaume d'Hauberat and Alessandro Galli da Bibiena, and later Nicolas de Pigage. With a city-facing front of around 450 meters, the palace is one of the largest Baroque complexes in Europe.

Under Carl Theodor, the Mannheim court enjoyed its heyday: as the “Mannheim School”, the court orchestra shaped European music, alongside a library, a natural history cabinet and art collections. When the Elector moved to Munich in 1778, the residence lost its importance; in the 19th century it served, among other things, as the residence of Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Baden.

During the Second World War the palace burned out almost completely. Reconstruction dragged on into the 1960s; since 1967 the University of Mannheim has used most of the complex. The central state rooms in the main building were reconstructed and opened in 2007 as the palace museum of the Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg.

Today the museum shows the state rooms, the Knights' Hall and the staircase, as well as decorative arts, furniture and tapestries from the electoral and grand-ducal periods. An experience room is dedicated to court music, and virtual reality stations bring lost rooms such as the state bedchamber back to life.

Highlights

• Knights' Hall and grand staircase in the main building
• One of the largest Baroque residences in Europe (front of around 450 m)
• Court music experience room on the “Mannheim School”
• VR reconstructions of the state bedchamber and the Electress's library
• Grand Duchess Stéphanie's diadem and original tapestries

Permanent exhibitions

• Kostbarkeiten am Mannheimer Hof – Palace museum with furniture, porcelain, books and tapestries from the era of Carl Theodor and the Grand Dukes of Baden.
• Erlebnisraum Hofmusik – Instruments, listening stations and films about the Mannheim court orchestra and its influence across Europe.
• VR-Erlebnis: Glanz der Kurfürsten – Virtual reconstruction of the war-destroyed state bedchamber based on surviving stucco fragments.

Founded

2007

Operated by

Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Baden-Württemberg

Admission & discounts

The Schlosscard, Museums-PASS-Musées and Landesfamilienpass (state family pass) are accepted. Teachers with school classes and up to two accompanying adults free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Step-free access; ramp to the left of the ticket desk, elevator to all levels. Loaner wheelchairs and induction loops (3.5 mm jack) available, seating in the rooms. Guided tours for blind and visually impaired people can be booked through the service center. Website with information in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache) and sign language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Saturday tour “Das Leben am kurfürstlichen Hof” (Life at the Elector's Court) for children and families with a costumed member of the court (on selected Saturdays, 1.5–2 hrs., registration required). School programs with costumes, dance and role play.

Getting there & parking

GPS: Schloss Mittelbau, Bismarckstraße, 68161 Mannheim. Bicycle parking garage with 400 spaces at the Hauptbahnhof. Construction site in the Ehrenhof; the palace remains open.

Amenities & dining

• Lockers

Lockers at the museum entrance, bicycle racks in the Ehrenhof (main courtyard), e-bike charging station at the ticket desk.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 400 guests.

Knights' Hall and Garden Hall (approx. 360 m² each, up to 400 people standing), Ehrenhof (main courtyard) for large open-air events; civil wedding ceremonies in the palace. Inquiries through the palace administration (0621 292-2890).

Plan your visit