Kurfürstliches Schloss

Kurfürstliches Schloss in Mainz is a former city residence of the Prince-elector and Archbishop of Mainz. Its richly decorated façade draws attention, especially around the windows. The palace represents a late form of German Renaissance architecture, with turrets standing at every corner. Mainz’s Rhine setting frames this historic building.

The first urban residence, Martinsburg, rose between 1478 and 1480 after Diether von Isenburg’s election. The present palace began in 1627 under Archbishop Georg Friedrich von Greiffenklau. Wars delayed the Rhine wing until 1678, while construction on the north wing began in 1687. The north wing reached completion in 1752 after decades of work. Restoration followed long neglect in 1827, and reconstruction after severe wartime damage finished in 1949.

The east wing houses the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, tracing cultural life from prehistory to the early Middle Ages. The north wing contains a celebrated function hall used for Mainz’s annual televised carnival show. Events also take place throughout the accessible palace, connecting its electoral past with present-day public life. Turrets at every corner provide the detail that stays with you.