Schloss Fasanerie

Schloss Fasanerie is a Baroque palace near Fulda, set on a small hill surrounded by woods. It began as a modest hunting lodge built for the Prince-Abbots of Fulda around 1710. The original design is credited to Johann Dientzenhofer, who also worked on Fulda Cathedral. The complex grew into a grand residence in the mid-18th century under Prince-Abbot Adolph van Dalberg. Later expansions were led by Andreas Gallasini, who shaped the palace’s current layout around two courtyards. The palace reflects centuries of political change, passing from the Prince-Bishops of Fulda to the Electors of Hesse. After damage in the Second World War, it was restored and opened as a museum in 1972. Today it houses one of Germany’s most significant private art collections, including rare porcelain and historical portraits. Among its treasures are eleven large portraits of military governors of Maastricht, painted by Johann Valentin Tischbein. The collection also features ceramics, sculptures and portrait busts from early European factories. Visitors explore the neoclassical state rooms in the southern wing and the restored Baroque interiors. The palace is arranged around a series of courtyards, with the original hunting lodge at its heart. Beyond the buildings lies an English landscape garden designed by Wilhelm Hentze, enclosed by a high stone wall. The estate includes a park with diverse tree species, partly planned with advice from Carl Linnaeus. A Japanese tea house recalls the earlier Baroque garden design.