Built in 1914 under the aegis of Johann Schweickard von Kronberg, Johannisburg Castle dominates the Aschaffenburg cityscape.

An impressive and characteristic example of German Renaissance architecture, it was the second residence of the Archbishops and prince electors of Mainz until 1803.

Towards the end of the 18th century Prince-elector and Archbishop Friedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal had the interior of the castle remodelled in the classical style to plans by his court architect Emanuel Joseph Herigoyen.

Soon after the severe damage suffered during the war, there was a general desire to rebuild it. Today the part of the building dating from the 17th century houses various museums and collections.


As owner of the castle the Bavarian State Department of Castles, Gardens and Lakes has its own showrooms displaying original furnishings, paintings and a collection of cork models of antique Roman architecture. As the largest outstation of the Bavarian State Art Collections, it includes important pictures by Lucas Cranach.

The 1,400 square metre site also houses a central exhibition area belonging to the Municipal Museums of the City of Aschaffenburg, with local history and craft collections including sculptures from the period when the castle was built, views of the city, guild insignia, furniture, ceramics and paintings.

The collection includes works by Christian Schad and E. L. Kirchner and others by contemporary regional artists. The castle houses the state court library established over 200 years ago by Erthal, holding works of scientific literature of the period.

Address:
Schloss Johannisburg
Schlossplatz 4
63739 Aschaffenburg
Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Aschaffenburg
Tel: +49 (0) 60 21 - 38 65 70
Mail: sgvaschaffenburg@bsv.bayern.de