Palace St. Emmeram

Exterior of Schloss St. Emmeram
Front facade of Schloss St. Emmeram in Regensburg. | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Stone fountain in the castle courtyard
Fountain in the Schloss St. Emmeram courtyard | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Wing of Schloss St. Emmeram and fountain
View of the wing and stone fountain. | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Inner courtyard of St. Emmeram Castle
View of the St. Emmeram Castle courtyard. | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Palace St. Emmeram, also known as “Schloss Thurn und Taxis” is a 500-room royal residence built on the foundations of a medieval Benedictine monastery right in the heart of Regensburg’s Old Town. It has been the principal seat of the aristocratic House of Thurn und Taxis since 1812. It is still actively lived in today – making it the largest inhabited private palace in Germany.

What to Do There

  • 🏛️ Guided Palace Tour: Walk through 19th-century royal apartments and the medieval monastery cloister.
  • 🐎 Marstall Museum & Princely Treasure: Explore historic royal carriages & Baroque furniture in the former royal stables.
  • ⛪ Basilica of St. Emmeram: Visit one of Bavaria’s oldest churches, a Baroque basilica dating back to the 8th century.
  • 🎵 Events & Festivals: Attend world-class open-air opera and music festival “Schlossfestspiele” in July or one of Bavaria’s most atmospheric Advent markets “Romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt” in December.

Guided Palace Tour 🏛️

The crown jewel of any visit. This guided 90-minute tour takes you through the private and ceremonial world of one of Germany’s wealthiest aristocratic families. Highlights include:

  • The Ballroom (Baroque Hall): a 190 m² hall, over 7 metres high, used for celebrations to this day
  • The Medieval Cloister: The monastery’s inner walkway, preserved in remarkable condition.
  • The Benedictus Portal: An entrance formerly used by monks and still used ceremonially by the princely family today.

Practical Info:

  • 🕙 Tour times: Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30 & 16:30
  • 🗣️ Language: German (English audio guides available on-site)
  • ⏱️ Duration: Approx. 90 minutes
  • 💶 Regular ticket: €17.00 | Reduced ticket: €14.00 | Children under 10: Free
  • 🖥️ Book online: thurnundtaxis.com/discover/visit-st-emmeram-palace/book-a-tour

Marstall Museum & Princely Treasury (Fürstliche Schatzkammer) 🐎

Located in the former royal stables, this museum complex does not require a guided tour and can be visited independently during opening hours.
The Marstall Museum includes:

  • Historic royal carriages, sleighs, and sedan chairs from the 18th & 19th centuries
  • Court liveries, riding accessories, and musical instruments illustrating grand court ceremonies

The Princely Treasury (branch of the Bavarian National Museum) showcases:

  • Baroque furniture and rare European porcelain ensembles
  • Gold and silver works, snuff boxes and a significant weapons collection

Practical Info:

  • 🕙 Opening hours: Thursday-Sunday & public holidays, 11:00-16:00 (last admission 15:30)
  • 💶 Regular ticket: €6.00 | Reduced ticket: €4.00 | Children under 10: Free
  • 🌐 Always check the latest times at: thurnundtaxis.com/home before your visit, as hours may vary on certain days due to private events

Thurn und Taxis Castle Festival (Schlossfestspiele Regensburg) 🎵

Every July, the inner courtyard of Schloss St. Emmeram is transformed into one of Germany’s most beautiful open-air stages. The Schlossfestspiele is a major cultural event on the European classical music and opera calendar – world-renowned artists perform opera, symphony concerts, and pop/crossover shows.
2026 already announced: Verdi’s La Traviata, Mozart children’s opera, symphonic concerts.

Romantic Christmas Market (Romantischer Weihnachtsmarkt) 🎄

Since 2001, the palace courtyard has hosted one of Bavaria’s most enchanting Christmas markets. Rustic log-cabin stalls, live music, storytelling, a children’s programme, and culinary treats fill the baroque courtyard with festive magic each Advent.

  • 2026 Edition Dates: November 20th – December 23rd 2026
  • Ticketed event: Check wm-tut.de/start-page each season for entry details

The Basilica of St. Emmeram ⛪

Don’t leave without stepping inside the Basilica of St. Emmeram – freely accessible with no palace ticket required, and one of the oldest continuously used churches in Bavaria. More Info.

Map

Getting There

📍 Address: Emmeramsplatz 5-6, 93047 Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany

By Train 🚆

Regensburg Hauptbahnhof is your hub. Direct connections from Munich (approx. 1h 20min ICE/IC, very frequent), Nuremberg (approx. 1h), and Frankfurt (approx. 3h by ICE). From Regensburg Hbf, the palace is a pleasant 10-15 minute walk through the beautiful old town.

By Car 🚗

Regensburg is easily reached via the A3 (Munich-Frankfurt) and A93 (Munich-Hof) motorways.

Parking 🅿

  • Parkhaus Dachauplatz (~1 km from palace)
  • Parkhaus St. Petersweg (~500 m from palace – recommended)

Gallery

Statue atop the castle courtyard fountain
Sculpted fountain in the castle courtyard. | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Stone carvings on the fountain.
Detail of fountain stonework. | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Map of the Schloss St. Emmeram grounds.
Site map of the castle complex. | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Residential building facade at the castle
Residential building at Schloss St. Emmeram | Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross / CC BY-SA 3.0 de

History

The roots of Schloss St. Emmeram stretch back to around 739 AD, when a Benedictine abbey was founded at Regensburg around the tomb of the Saint Emmeram. In 1803 Napoleonic secularisation dissolved the imperial abbey and by 1812, the entire complex was acquired by the Princes of Thurn und Taxis – a dynasty that had built their fortune running the Holy Roman Empire’s postal system. Since then it was progressively transformed into a aristocratic palace.

Fun Fact
  • 🏠 Largest inhabited private palace in Germany: With 517 rooms and approximately 21,460 m² of floor space, ranking among the largest privately inhabited residences in the entire world

A Perfect Day in Regensburg

The palace sits inside Regensburg’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, meaning extraordinary sights are within easy walking distance:

  • Regensburg Cathedral (Dom St. Peter): One of Bavaria’s greatest Gothic cathedrals, ~10 min walk.
  • The Stone Bridge (Steinerne Brücke):A 12th-century engineering marvel and one of Germany’s most iconic bridges.
  • Porta Praetoria: Remarkably preserved Roman gateway (179 AD)
  • Schottenkirche St. Jakob: Extraordinary Romanesque doorway with mysterious carved figures.
  • Danube Waterfront: A stroll along the riverside promenade, especially lovely in the late afternoon light

Further reading

Credits

Photos in order of appearance: (You can also click on each photo for more info)
1: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, 2: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de (Cropped), 3: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, 4: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, 5: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, 6: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, 7: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, 8: Photo Details / CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Scroll to Top