Bolongaropalast

The Bolongaropalast stands on the southern bank of the Main in Frankfurt-Höchst, a grand baroque palace built between 1772 and 1774 by the Bolongaro brothers. These Italian merchants had settled in Frankfurt but moved to Höchst after failing to gain citizenship in the Lutheran city. Their palace was designed to reflect their wealth, with a three-winged layout forming a horseshoe shape and a garden descending in two terraces. The brothers’ story reflects the tensions of their time, as Catholics in a Protestant stronghold. The palace has witnessed notable historical events, including visits by Napoleon in 1813 and Prussian marshal Blücher during the Napoleonic Wars. Later, it served as a factory, a town hall, and even housed the offices of the German Counties Association. Today, it functions as a district administration building, with parts of the park containing a registry office and a standesamt in the western pavilion. The building’s restoration aims to preserve its baroque interiors while adapting it for modern use. Inside, visitors find priceless rooms with mirrored walls, ceiling paintings, and silk wallpapers. The chapel and grand hall showcase the Bolongaros’ lifestyle, while a museum displays reproductions of historic Höchst porcelain. The garden features a neobaroque Triton fountain and hosts summer theatre performances. The palace remains a cultural hub, blending history with contemporary events.