Imperial Palace Ingelheim

The Ingelheim Imperial Palace stands on a slope above the Rhine plains near Mainz. Built in the late 8th century, it was one of the most important royal residences for Frankish kings and later Holy Roman Emperors. The complex once stretched across a wide area, with much of it now buried beneath the ground. Above ground, impressive ruins remain, including parts of the great hall and semicircular buildings. Archaeologists have reconstructed the layout through careful excavations over many decades. The palace played a central role in early medieval politics and religion. Charlemagne stayed here multiple times, including for a major assembly in 788 where Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria was tried. His son Louis the Pious held five imperial assemblies here between 817 and 840. Later, under Ottonian rulers like Otto the Great, it hosted important church councils to settle disputes. The last recorded royal visit was by Charles IV in 1354. Visitors today can explore the remains of the Aula regia, a grand hall measuring over 40 metres long. Nearby stands the only surviving building from the complex, the Romanesque palace church, rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries. Excavations continue to uncover fragments of painted plaster, marble tiles and even a medieval heating system. A small museum displays some of these finds, offering a glimpse into the palace’s Carolingian and Ottonian past.