Pillnitz Palace & Park

Augustus the Strong wanted an “Indian” – i.e. exotic – castle on the Elbe. And so, according to plans by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, he had the baroque Pillnitz Palace complex built on the site of an old knight’s estate from 1720, with many elements of East Asian and Oriental architecture. Ten years later, the Water Palace on the Elbe and the Hill Palace on the hillside, including the pleasure garden and palace garden, were completed. From the Wasserpalais, a wide flight of steps led down to the Elbe, so that the stately gondolas could dock directly at the palace. August’s great-grandson, Elector Friedrich August III, frequently used Pillnitz as a summer residence. For this purpose, the palace buildings and the gardens were structurally extended. The English and Chinese Pavilions were built, as well as the New Palace after a fire in 1818. Nowadays Pillnitz Palace impresses with its baroque splendor and differently designed gardens and parks.

With the help of written sources, drawings, pictures as well as architectural-archaeological traces, statements could be made about the Royal Court Kitchen located in the New Palace in the 19th century. The Royal Court Kitchen was reconstructed from the year 2000. Furniture and parts of the cooking machines are historically correct replicas and the furnishings are purchases of various origins. The kitchen copper is original and comes directly from the Saxon court.

The Pillnitz Palace & Park team hopes you enjoy your virtual tour.