Augustus Castle was built from 1725 to 1768, and is regarded as a living witness of Rococo in West Germany. When entering the castle, visitors can shuttle through the room and see the transition from the late Baroque to the rise of Rococo style from the design of walls and ceilings.
Because of this, this castle, including its garden and hunting lodge, was listed as a world cultural heritage in 1984 to preserve this important page in architectural history.
It is said that Napoleon said after seeing the castle for the first time at 1804 that it was a pity that it had no wheels, otherwise he could have taken it back to France.
If you were invited to be a VIP of this castle in the18th century, you would take a carriage to the front of the grand staircase. This magnificent staircase made of marble and white plaster is very eye-catching.
Look at the ceiling, the gods are all over the sky to meet you. Below, the noble and humble sculptures on both sides reveal the power position of Clemens Auguste, the owner of the castle, as the archbishop-elector.
Augustus Castle is indeed a masterpiece of Rococo Castle. In fact, it is also the first Rococo-style building in Germany.
In the prosperous18th century, the governors of northern and western Germany ruled their own kingdom in palaces, and the Palace of Versailles in France became an example for them to learn.
Rococo originated in the late period of Louis XIV's rule and became popular in the period of Louis XV. It is characterized by rounded corners and decoration. The name Rococo implies the French word "rocaille", which means an artificial stone room decorated with shells.
The core of Rococo style is to praise nature; Patterns and pictures of flowers and animals can be seen everywhere in Augustus Castle. As the rococo style began to be out of fashion at that time, it gradually developed into complex decoration until it evolved into excessive embellishment. Some people think that Rococo is only a stage in the late Baroque, which is different from the grand and orderly living room with private decorative salons. In the early days of Augustus Castle, the decoration inside was relatively simple. The decoration of the room completed in the later period is more complicated.
Like Versailles, the murals in Augustus Castle are quite magnificent and full of images of gods. The rulers who live here believe that their power is given by God, and their image reminds them of their responsibilities.
The main staircase is impressive. It was designed by architect balthasar neumann. After completing the Wü rzburg residence, which is still regarded as the largest castle in Europe, he devoted himself to this design. As you walk up the stairs, you will see gradually revealed figures, pairs of gods who praise peace and virtue, and works of art that the elector has long loved and supported.
On the landing, you will reach the guard hall. This ceremony hall is also filled with symbolic plastering, paying tribute to religion, nobility, military strength, wisdom and advice. And the God of Justice plays the role of surrendering sovereignty here.
Further down, we arrive at the restaurant-Music Room, which is another beautifully decorated reception space. Here, Apollo, the sun god, looks down from a height and is surrounded by nine muses.
The original site of this castle used to be a medieval castle surrounded by a moat. In 1725, the architect Johann Conrad Schlaun was entrusted to rebuild this ruin into a palace. Subsequently, the architect Fran? ois de Villier (Fran? Ois de Cuvilliés) took over the architectural design at 1728 and converted it into an exquisite residence. After the old structure was demolished, the new castle was not officially started until 1735.
During more than forty years of political turmoil, Augustus fought for peace and stability for his country, but he could not see the completion of the castle with his own eyes. His successor, Max Friedrich von K? After Augustus died in nigsegg1761year, he supervised the completion of the remaining projects.
Augustus not only lived here for a long time, but also left many personal ingenuity in architectural design. On the west side of the castle, he planned a prayer chapel on each floor and hid it in the main hall.
There is a small room far from the apartment and reception room. It was originally planned as a bathroom, which was full of photos of his beloved birds. Augustus loved falcons so much that he built a hunting hut "Falkenlust" in the park.
Minnich Girard, a landscape architect, designed castle gardens in the form of French baroque gardens, the most representative of which is the Palace of Versailles, which has neat natural planting and paths and shows the spirit of harmony and order.
1842, the whole garden was rebuilt according to the popular English landscape style at that time, but it changed back to the original Baroque style when the castle was renovated.