Schloss Weißenstein
Baroque summer residence of the Counts of Schönborn in Pommersfelden with a grand staircase, mirror cabinet and a large private gallery of Old Masters.
About the museum
Lothar Franz von Schönborn, Prince-Bishop of Bamberg and Elector of Mainz, had a private summer residence built in Pommersfelden between 1711 and 1718, financed in part by a gift from Emperor Charles VI. The plans were drawn up by Johann Dientzenhofer, with Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt and Maximilian von Welsch also involved. Fitting out the interiors took roughly another decade.
The showpiece is the grand staircase with frescoes by Giovanni Francesco Marchini and Rudolf Byss, which served as a stage for the courtly reception ceremony. Beneath it lies the grotto lined with shells, glass and tufa, and above it the Marble Hall, still used today as a banquet and concert hall. The largely original apartments contain one of the oldest surviving mirror cabinets in Europe, furniture from the Roentgen workshop and elaborate inlaid floors.
The builder also laid the foundation for one of the largest private collections of Old Master paintings in the German-speaking world, part of which can still be seen in its historic hanging – with works by Rubens, van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel, among others. Since the palace came through all wars unscathed, it is one of the best-preserved complexes of its time. The park was redesigned in the English style in the 19th century.
In 1996 Karl Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid transferred the palace to a nonprofit foundation, which has been run by his son Paul since 1998. The palace can only be visited on a guided tour and also serves as an event venue; most recently it was a filming location for the Netflix series “The Empress” (“Die Kaiserin”).
Highlights
- Grand staircase with ceiling frescoes
- Shell grotto on the ground floor
- Marble Hall used as a banquet and concert hall
- Mirror cabinet, one of the oldest surviving in Europe
- Private gallery of Old Master paintings with more than 600 pictures
- Filming location for the Netflix series “The Empress” (“Die Kaiserin”)
- Founded
- 1718
- Operated by
- Gemeinnützige Stiftung Schloss Weissenstein (Grafen von Schönborn-Wiesentheid)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €14 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €12School students, students, holders of the Ehrenamtskarte (volunteer card), people with severe disabilities and their companions |
| Children & teens | €12free up to age 7 · Children under 8 free; school students pay the reduced price |
| Seniors | –No senior discount (pensioners pay the regular price) |
| Visitors with disabilities | €12Companion also pays the reduced price (€12), not free |
| Students & apprentices | €12 |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Groups of 10 or 15 or more are asked to register; max. 25 people per tour; group tours also outside regular times and in other languages by arrangement |
| Families | €302 parents with children |
| Single-parent family ticket (1 adult with children) | €20 |
| Sisi tour (approx. 1 hr.) | €18See website for dates, always at 12:00 |
| Paintings tour (1.5 hrs.) | €18See website for dates, always at 12:00 |
| Children's tour (ages 5–12, 1 hr.) | €10See website for dates, always at 10:00 |
| Chapel tour (45 min.) | €12for groups of 15 or more by arrangement |
Admission only as part of a guided tour; the price includes the regular palace tour.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to the operator, the palace interiors are not wheelchair-accessible.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 7 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €30 · 2 parents with children |
- Family tours & workshops
Children's tour for ages 5 to 12 on selected dates (approx. 1 hr.) with puzzles, search activities and a little minuet.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
On weekdays, regular bus 978; on weekends from May 1, also the Steigerwaldexpress leisure bus.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 400 guests.
Marble Hall (250 m², up to 200 people for dinners, up to 400 for concerts), staircase (upper floor for banquets up to approx. 150 people, unheated), grotto (standing reception up to 200), palace courtyard (4,300 m², open-air), 18-hectare park, orangery, Baroque hall and threshing barn (Tenne) in the stables (Marstall); palace chapel with approx. 80 seats for weddings. Prices on request.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Regular guided tours in German; accompanying texts in other languages are available at the ticket desk. Booking only required for 10 or more people. The palace is unheated – in spring and October it can be noticeably colder inside than outside. Themed tours (Sisi, paintings, children, chapel) on fixed dates or for groups on request. |
