JOHANNISBURG CASTLE

The prestigious Aschaffenburg Castle, with its characteristic red sandstone, is a flamboyant example of the late German Renaissance. It was built in the early ^17th century on the foundations of a medieval citadel, of which the ^14th-century keep, integrated into the castle's north wing, still remains. The Prince-Elector and Archbishop of Mainz, Johann Schweikhard von Cronberg, commissioned the work from his architect Georg Ridinger. Ridinger transformed the fortress into a gigantic, symmetrical palace with no fewer than 250 rooms. Johannisburg Castle served as a secondary residence for the Prince Electors of Mainz, powerful rulers of the Holy Roman Empire who lived part of the year in Mainz and part in Aschaffenburg. As holder of both spiritual and temporal power over his lands, the Elector of Mainz held a privileged position in the Empire: as Archchancellor, he was responsible for organizing the election of the new Emperor in Frankfurt, and ceremonial stipulated that he should be the last of the 7 electors to cast his vote. He was also responsible for crowning the new emperor in Aachen. In a way, he was the number 2 in power in the Empire. Throughout the castle courtyard, you'll see a coat of arms depicting a wheel above the windows: this is the coat of arms of the Electorate of Mainz. World War II bombing destroyed almost the entire castle - with the exception of the keep, where only the roof was damaged. It took years to rebuild this monument to art and history. Even today, the château is still undergoing work that shows no signs of ending. Inside the castle, you can visit a number of attractions:

Schlossmuseum. The west wing (river side) contains the neoclassical ceremonial rooms where the prince-archbishop lived. A (rather modest) collection of furniture, ceramics and paintings also awaits visitors. The Staatsgalerien, with works by Lucas Cranach the Elder and other German and Dutch artists, was reopened in 2022.

Korkmodellsammlung. The cork model collection: on the^2nd floor of the south wing is an astonishing collection of 45 models representing the remains of ancient Rome, designed using painted cork! The Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Arch of Constantine, the Temple of Tivoli - you name it! These works of art are the work of two self-taught artists, Carl and Georg May, father and son, who worked at court for the last archbishop-elector, Karl Theodor von Dalberg.

Schlosskapelle. The tour of the castle ends in the chapel on the first floor of the north wing. The late-Renaissance altar was designed by Franconian sculptor Hans Juncker. A video animation illuminates each part of the altar in turn, highlighting its special features. Archbishop Johann Schweikhard von Cronberg is depicted proudly holding his castle in his hand.

Schlossgarten. Don't miss a stroll through the gardens around the castle. The walk between Schloss Johannisburg and Pompejanum offers lovely views of the town and the Main meander. The town of Aschaffenburg has embarked on a colossal project to revegetate the banks of the Main, which will extend this beautiful green space.