Schleissheim Palace

Schleissheim Palace is a three-palace complex and formal garden ensemble north of Munich in Oberschleißheim, Bavaria. The site grew from a 16th-century hunting lodge into a Baroque residential and representational complex for the Wittelsbach dynasty.

Major elements include the Old Palace (Altes Schloss), the New Palace (Neues Schloss) and the smaller Lustheim Palace set at the end of the garden axis. The layout features long parterres, axial water basins and alleys typical of Baroque landscape design.

Construction and major expansion took place across the 17th and 18th centuries under successive Bavarian rulers; the New Palace contains grand state rooms while Lustheim houses a porcelain collection. Over time the complex was altered for changing tastes but retains its Baroque plan and many original interiors.

The palace stands in the town of Oberschleißheim, about 12 to 20 kilometres north of central Munich, and is accessible by regional train and road services as a common cultural excursion from the city.

• Complex layout: The complex comprises three main palaces with extensive Baroque gardens and water features laid out in formal axes.
• Proximity to Munich: Located in Oberschleißheim, the site is a short drive north of central Munich and commonly visited as a day trip from the city.

What to See #

• Altes Schloss: The Old Palace (Altes Schloss) originated as a 16th-century hunting lodge and was expanded in the 17th century as part of the Wittelsbach complex.
• Neues Schloss: The New Palace (Neues Schloss) was commissioned in the late 17th century and finished in the early 18th century; it houses ceremonial state rooms and museum displays.
• Lustheim Palace: Lustheim Palace is a small octagonal pavilion built in 1684 and set on an island at the end of the formal Baroque garden; it contains a porcelain museum.