About this place
Rising beside the Rhine at the northern edge of the old town, the Kurfürstliches Schloss was the grand residence of the archbishops of Mainz, who ruled not only the Church here but held the rank of prince elector, among the most powerful figures in the entire Holy Roman Empire. Elector Georg Friedrich von Greiffenklau laid its foundation stone in 1627, in the very middle of the devastating Thirty Years War, determined to raise a palace worthy of a prince who helped crown emperors. Built almost entirely of the warm local red sandstone, its facade bristles with ornate window surrounds, corner turrets, and richly carved gables, a lavish late flowering of the German Renaissance that some art historians rank even above the celebrated Heidelberg Castle. Reduced to bare outer walls in the air raids of 1945, it was carefully rebuilt and today hums with life as a congress and event venue and the legendary stage of the Mainz carnival.
Key facts
- 1627 year — Elector Greiffenklau laid the foundation stone during the Thirty Years War
- 125 years — It took roughly this long to complete, from 1627 to 1752
- 1700 guests — Today the palace can host events for this many people across its halls
📍 Peter-Altmeier-Allee 9, 55116, Mainz