Palaces > Willibaldsburg Castle at Eichstätt
The first castle buildings on Willibaldsberg were erected by the bishops of Eichstätt in 1355. Conversion to a prestigious residence under Prince-Bishop Johann Conrad von Gemmingen (reigned 1595 –1612) was carried out by the Augsburg architect Elias Holl. The episcopal court moved to the new city residence in the mid-18th century, and Willibaldsburg Castle was partly levelled during the 19th century. The Gemmingen Building dominates its appearance today. The massive two-towered façade originally had three storeys and onion domes on the towers.
The ‘Bastion Garden’ was opened in 1998 – based on the Hortus Eystettensis, a book of copperplate engravings published in 1613 by the apothecary and botanist Basilius Besler (1561 –1629), the garden provides information about the flora included in the historical ‘Hortus Eystettensis’ that was laid out by Besler starting in 1592.
Due to construction work, access to the observation tower and the well is unfortunately not possible until further notice.
Burgstraße 19
85072 Eichstätt
08421 4730
April-3 October: 9 am-6 pm
4 October-March: 10 am-4 pm
closed Mondays
(except: 6 January, Easter Monday, 1 May, Whit Monday, 15 August, 3 October, 1 November)
Last admission 45 minutes before closing time
Closed on: January 1, Shrove Tuesday, December 24/25/31
5 euros regular
4 euros reduced
Children under 18 are admitted free of charge.
The fountain and tower of Willibaldsburg Castle and the Museum of Pre- and Early History are not barrier-free. Most of the Jura Museum is accessible for wheelchair users; the access to the Bastion garden is difficult because of steep slopes.
Parking is available in the outer bailey and in the car park of the Berufsschule (vocational school) on Burgstraße.
No coach parking spaces
Eichstätt-Stadt
www.bahn.com
Bus (bus stop below the castle)
Pushchairs can be taken into the exhibition rooms of the Jura Museum.
Lockers are available in the ticket office building (some with charging facilities).
Service (leaflets, photo/film, links…)
Jura Museum (Branch of the Bavarian State Scientific Collections)
08421 602980-0
www.jura-museum.de
Museum of Pre- and Early History (Historical Association of Eichstätt)
0176 62756238
www.histver.de
Burggaststätte „Das Willibald“
08421 607680
www.daswillibald.de
Schloss- und Gartenverwaltung Ansbach
Promenade 27
91522 Ansbach
0981 953839-0
Fax 0981 953839-40
sgvansbach@ bsv.bayern.de
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