Schleißheim Palace - Germany

We chose the route passing through Munich for our trip this week and took a break at Schleißheim Palace. The palace is located about 20 km away from Munich. It's a wonderful complex in the Baroque style. We especially loved its magnificent French-style garden. We first visited the place known as the Old Palace. Unfortunately its atmosphere is not very impressive as it suffered serious damage during World War II. Secondly we toured the New Palace, completed around 1848. Unlike the Old Palace, this one has managed to largely preserve its luxurious atmosphere. The palace also houses the Baroque Gallery, hosting the largest Baroque-style painting collection in Germany. I highly recommend a visit if you happen to be in the area. You can see the palace without a guide. In the garden there are also amazing fountains that further enhance the charm of the place.

As for ticket prices, if you buy a single ticket it might be a bit expensive. But annual or multi-day tickets are more economical. We had an annual pass since we participate in tours regularly. For a one-time visit, you can get a combined ticket. You can visit all three palaces, Old Palace, New Palace, and Lustheim Palace for 8 euros. There's also an aviation museum near the palace: Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim. We visited the aviation museum while we were there. The town of Oberschleißheim is best known for Schleissheim Palace and Flugwerft Schleissheim museum. I'll talk about it in a bit.

If you come to Schleißheim my first recommendation is to visit the painting gallery located in the southern wing. Here you'll find works of famous Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and German painters ranging from Rubens and Van Dyck to Zanardelli and Carotona. It took us at least two hours to fully explore the gallery, so allocating plenty of time here is highly recommended. We couldn't take photos inside but I can share the images I took from the garden with you.

Watching people stroll around in period costumes was very enjoyable. This made us feel like we were living in that era. Even if it's temporary, I think it's necessary to escape from the stress of everything and visit places like this. It does wonders for me and I'm sure it will for you too.

Schleißheim now includes 3 palaces and an immense park. According to the guide the foundations of this complex were laid with a small chapel and a shepherd's house. These were purchased by the Duke of Bavaria in 1597. Duke Wilhelm spent three years rebuilding the church, the vast mansion, and several wings. Later the palace passed down to Elector Maximilian through inheritance in 1616. He hired the famous architect Schöner and a major construction began. They demolished the old structures, leaving only the clock tower and grand gates of the old mansion.

The garden is absolutely beautiful. It not only features wooded areas and artificial canals,but also a giant flowerbed planned by Dominik Girard and even an artificial waterfall complex. In the summer months gondola tours are organized along the Central Canal in the park area. Besides romantic walks you can also order wedding or dining tours with picnics in the park in the evening hours.

I found Schleissheim Palace somewhat similar to Nymphenburg Palace but with a much more spacious area. It's definitely worth strolling through its gardens on a sunny day. You can also listen to classical music concerts here. Concerts are usually held during daytime hours. To reach the palace you should either drive or take the S1 line towards Frising and the Airport and get off at OberSchleissheim station. It's about a 10 min walk from the train station. There's also a beer garden inside the palace. If you don't want to eat there, there are other restaurants near the station. As you head towards the garden, you'll see small planes nearby. There's also an aviation museum, part of the German Museum located nearby.

Today Flugwerft Schleissheim is known as one of the largest aviation museums in Europe. It houses various artifacts reflecting the history of aviation. Planes and many other objects related to aviation are displayed here. It has a special place for German aviation history, including the wartime period. It boasts a wide collection ranging from fighter planes to bomber planes and civilian aircraft.

We really liked the museum. There was ample information on the informational boards. We had the opportunity to learn about airplanes and the technologies used in aviation. Tours and activities are organized here for both children and adults and temporary exhibitions are also featured.

You not only get to acquire knowledge but also have the chance to touch, even ride, and sometimes take tours of the planes. The kids loved it here. No one minded them getting close to the planes and playing with them, after all. The atmosphere was very pleasant.