Schloss Münster

Schloss Münster is the Baroque palace in the centre of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, originally built as the residence of the prince-bishops and now integrated into the University of Münster.

The palace presents a Baroque facade facing a broad square and is closely linked to the cathedral quarter, making it a central architectural landmark in Münster’s historic core. Interiors and courtrooms are used for university administration and official functions rather than as a public museum.

Constructed in the 18th century as the bishop’s residence, the palace later passed into state and municipal hands and was repurposed for academic use during the 19th and 20th centuries. Its Baroque form reflects the city-planning of the period.

Located in Münster’s city centre, the palace stands adjacent to the cathedral precinct and main civic spaces, within walking distance of the town’s principal streets and transport links.

• University use: The building is the main administrative seat of the University of Münster and is visible from Münster's cathedral precinct.

What to See #

• Palace building: Fürstbischöfliches Schloss (the palace building) - an 18th-century Baroque residence that now accommodates university administration and ceremonial rooms.
• Square and urban setting: Schlossplatz and surrounding urban ensemble - the palace fronts a large square and sits close to Münster Cathedral within the historic centre.