Palais Holnstein

The Palais Holnstein on Kardinal-Faulhaber-Strasse in Munich's Old Town is one of the city's most important surviving Baroque aristocratic palaces. It was built between 1735 and 1737 by the court architect François de Cuvilliés, commissioned by Elector Karl Albrecht for his son, Franz Ludwig, Count of Holnstein. The architecture follows a classic four-wing floor plan with an impressive Rococo façade, which stands out for its original state of preservation. The façade has three stories with nine window bays, a shallow central projection, and a freely curving balcony above the entrance gate. The stucco work on the façade and in the interior is attributed to the Wessobrunn artist Johann Baptist Zimmermann. Since 1821, the building has served as the residence of the Archbishop of Munich and Freising, which is why it is also known as the Archbishop's Palace. Although the interior is not open to visitors, the palace underwent extensive renovation between 2008 and 2012. During this work, the historic ceiling fresco in the main stairwell, with its allegorical figures of Justitia and Pax, was largely restored to its original condition.