The New Palace for the prince-bishops of Constance is one of the most original Baroque residences in Germany. Both its monumental exterior and its original interior are sure to impress.
The gleaming white staircase makes an impression.
Regardless of whether guests arrived from the lake or town, they were always greeted by a splendid facade of white pilasters. The prince-bishops’ two-story, single-wing building was designed entirely in the style of a royal Baroque structure, majestic both inside and out. Upon entering the palace, the monumental staircase makes a grand impression. It is evident how much this part of the palace served a representational function: this is where guests were received.
The heart of the palace, the bel étage, the representational main floor, is oddly located on the third floor. This is where the two prince-bishops’ apartments are located, along with the state and envoy apartments, with the ceremonial hall at their center. Almost all of the rooms on the bel étage still have original stucco decor on the ceilings, created by Carlo Luca Pozzi.
The old and new residences in filigreed wall decor in the prince-bishop's study.
Even the antechamber is magnificently decorated.
The rooms on the second floor were originally designed as administrative rooms. Later, some of the rooms were converted into salons and were decorated with stucco reflecting each room's new function. Dining, conference and billiard rooms The two-story palace church was built in the corner pavilion. Its magnificent decor is partially credited to the Upper Swabian master of Rococo sculpture, Joseph Anton Feuchtmayer.
New town center: the palace square.
The prince-bishops had their royal buildings arranged around the New Palace, after the last of the town houses that had stood there were torn down. This is how the present-day palace square was shaped: the Rodt palace, where Rodt and his family lived, the red house, which once served as the court legal office, and the former main guard station.
Visitors are astounded by the palace's masterful staircase.
