Schloss Johannisburg

Schloss Johannisburg is a major early 17th-century Renaissance palace in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, sited on the banks of the Main river. It served as a residence for the Prince-Bishops of Mainz and is a dominant architectural feature of the town.

The palace is built of local red sandstone and is organised around a large central courtyard, with long river-facing façades that define Aschaffenburg’s riverside. Today parts of the building house municipal collections and library facilities, and the ensemble is open to visitors for its architecture and display spaces.

Originally erected in the early 1600s, the complex suffered heavy damage during the Second World War and underwent significant reconstruction in the mid-20th century to restore its Renaissance appearance. The site remains one of the principal landmarks of Aschaffenburg.

The castle sits in central Aschaffenburg on the Main river in northern Bavaria and is easily reached from the town centre and riverside promenades.

• Construction and reconstruction: Construction dates from the early 17th century and the building was heavily damaged in World War II before being reconstructed in the postwar period.

What to See #

• Central courtyard and river façade: A U-shaped Renaissance palace arranged around a central courtyard that faces the Main river, notable for its red sandstone construction and monumental scale.