Brühl

The castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust
UNESCO-World Heritage since 1984

In 1984, UNESCO included the palaces Augustusburg, Falkenlust and the gardens in its list of world cultural heritage as an outstanding example of German rococo art. Today they are open to the public.

Augustusburg palace, the favourite residence of Clemens August von Wittelsbach
(1700-1761), archbishop and prince-elector of Cologne, was created in 1725 by the Westphalian architect Johann Conrad Schlaun and was transformed into a magnificent palace under the direction of the Bavarian court master builder François de Cuvilliés between 1728 and 1768.

The famous staircase of the palace was designed by Balthasar Neumann and until 1996 used for official state occasions. Dominique Girard planned the baroque gardens in French style.
Between 1729 and 1737, one of the most intimate and exquisite examples of German rococo, Falkenlust palace, was created according to the plans of Cuvilliés.

Route Suggestion
Through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley to Cologne, Brühl, Aachen and Essen