Augustusburg Castle, often simply called Brühl Castle, is one of the first important Rococo creations in Germany as the favorite residence of Cologne Elector and Archbishop Clemens August of the Wittelsbach family (1700 - 1761).
On behalf of Clemens August, the Westphalian master builder Johann Conrad Schlaun began in 1725 with the construction of the castle on the ruins of a medieval moated castle.
From 1728 Augustusburg Castle received its design as an outstanding residence of this time under the Bavarian court architect François de Cuvilliés. Well-known artists of European renown worked here until it was completed in 1768. One example is Balthasar Neumann, who made the design for the grand staircase, a bravura piece, a gorgeous creation full of dynamism and elegance.
The merging of architecture, sculpture, painting and garden art resulted in a total work of art of the German Rococo of the highest order.
UNESCO recognized the past and present of the baroque palaces in 1984 by including Augustusburg Palace - together with Falkenlust Palace and the Brühl Gardens - on the list of world cultural heritage of mankind.
From 1949 Augustusburg Castle was used for many decades as a representative palace for the Federal President and the Federal Government.
Dominique Girard created the baroque gardens based on the French model from 1728. Thanks to professional restoration and maintenance, it is one of the most authentic gardens of the 18th century in Europe.
Aside from the baroque garden, Peter Joseph Lenné designed the forest areas from 1840 on the model of an English landscape garden - an area that today invites you to take relaxing walks.
As the owner, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia ensures that a world-class castle is preserved in Brühl and - together with Falkenlust Castle - is open to the public as a museum.