Schleissheim Palace and Lustheim Palace

The Baroque palace complex of Schleissheim, located in Oberschleißheim about a dozen kilometers north of Munich's city center, was once the summer residence of the Bavarian Wittelsbach dynasty. The ensemble consists of three buildings arranged in a line: the Old Palace, the New Palace, and Lustheim Palace, separated by a palace garden stretching over a kilometer. The site's history dates back to the late 16th century, when Duke Wilhelm V purchased rural buildings here, later transformed by his son Maximilian I into a Renaissance residence. In 1684, Elector Maximilian II Emanuel initiated further expansion, creating a Baroque garden and Lustheim Palace as a wedding gift for his wife Maria Antonia of Austria. The New Palace, under construction since 1701 with ambitious plans to rival Versailles, remained unfinished – only one wing was realized, which today impresses with its French late Baroque interior decoration. Lustheim Palace houses a porcelain museum, and the New Palace's interiors can be explored on guided tours. The palace gardens are open year-round and free of charge, making the site appealing to history and art enthusiasts as well as families with children. Facilities include restrooms, a gift shop, and bicycle parking, and the complex is easily accessible by public transport.