Prince-Bishop Johann Franz Schenk von Stauffenberg (1658–1740), who came from an old Swabian noble family, shaped the appearance of the town of Meersburg. He was responsible for constructing the splendid buildings that sit next to the old castle and make up the Baroque residence.
Stauffenberg was a generous ruler.
Stauffenberg was born in 1658 in Lautlingen near Albstadt, the fourth of five sons of Wolfgang Friedrich Schenk von Stauffenberg. After his studies in Dillingen, he became the subdeacon in Augsburg in 1682. In 1704, he was elected as the Bishop of Constance. Stauffenberg worked hard to increase his family's status and holdings. He provided especially for his many nieces and nephews, in part by foregoing earnings from his own principalities.
Expanding the palace was an emergency solution.
Immediately following his appointment to bishop, Stauffenberg attempted to move the prince-bishops’ residence back to the cathedral city of Constance. He wanted a representational bishop's seat near his cathedral. To this end, he planned a palace and seminary. When the city council was unwilling to provide the necessary land, Stauffenberg turned his attentions back to Meersburg in frustration and decided on an expansion to his residence directly next to the old castle.
Stauffenberg called on former Benedictine monk Christoph Gessinger (circa 1670–1732) to be his architect in this endeavor. Gessinger had already worked as a surveyor at the prince-bishops’ court and now designed the expansion that would later become the New Palace according to Stauffenberg's wishes. There was a shortage of space for administrative offices, since Stauffenberg planned on expanding his retinue considerably during his reign. Thus the legal office, the upper and lower bailiwicks and the records office were moved into the second floor of the New Building.
Stauffenberg shaped the Meersburg lakeside facade.
The most striking elements of the impressive Meersburg lake facade, as can still be seen today, were created by Johann Franz von Stauffenberg and his architect, Gessinger. These include, in particular, the seminary and the New Palace, its garden and teahouse, which were built in the first half of the 18th century.
