SPECIAL EXHIBITION
Rococo under Construction - The Making of Schloss Augustusburg
Fancy an exciting journey back in time to the 18th century? Then come and visit our temporary exhibition. For the first time, it focuses on the construction of Augustusburg Palace, which took over 40 years to complete. Once a major building site of the 18th century with a reputation that spread across Europe, it is now one of the most significant examples of European Rococo architecture. Today, the summer residence, together with Falkenlust Palace and the palace gardens, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The palace was comissioned by and named after the Elector and Archbishop of Cologne, Clemens August of Bavaria. Architects, artists and craftspeople from across Europe worked alongside local specialists to create this unique total work of art.
A glimpse into the special exhibition
Who were the personalities behind the names of the builders? What was a typical working day like back then? What techniques and materials were used? And were there any conflicts or scandals during the construction phase? In the rooms of the Yellow Apartment, the exhibition profiles key figures such as the Bavarian court architect François de Cuvilliés, the master builder Balthasar Neumann, the fresco painter Carlo Carlone, as well as lesser-known craftsmen, suppliers and day labourers.
Vivid. Informative. Interactive!
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At multimedia and hands-on stations, you’ll learn how ceiling paintings were painted, stucco was made and gilding was applied. A fantastic audio tour – developed by pupils at the Erich Kästner Realschule in Brühl especially for children – guides young visitors through the exhibition. An exciting experience for the whole family!
Grand Staircase included
Did you know? The Grand Staircase makes for a spectacular start to the exhibition. Take your time to admire this magnificent structure – designed by Balthasar Neumann – before exploring the exhibition in the palace’s earliest completed rooms.
Take this unique opportunity to compare Carlo Carlone’s original ceiling fresco with the oil sketch on display. Or take a closer look at the stucco to find out more about the technique later on.
Special guided tours of the exhibition in English
Would you like to join a guided tour of the exhibition? We offer special guided tours in English:
Curator’s tour
Every last Sunday of the month plus 1 Nov.
12.00 h
Kombi tour
Sun, 16 Aug. / 6 Sep. / 20 Sep. / 11 Oct.
14.30 h
€ 14,50 reg. / € 13,00 red.
kids / pupils / students / trainees (≤ 25 y.) € 3,50 p. Pers.
Book now!
+49 (0)2232 44 000 / mail@schlossbruehl.de
At a glance
The special exhibition can be viewed until 1 November 2026 in the rarely opened Yellow Apartment at Augustusburg Palace in Brühl.
Opening hours
Tue–Fri: 9 am–4 pm (last admission)
Sat–Sun, public holidays: 10 am–5 pm (last admission)
Mon: closed
Tickets: available at the ticket office at Augustusburg Palace.
Click here for admission prices.
For group bookings of 10 or more people, please contact:
+49 (0)2232 44000 or mail@schlossbruehl.de
Curators: Xenia Schürmann and Benedikt Bauer.
Project manager: Christiane Winkler
An accompanying publication in German and English is available at the ticket office and in bookshops.
The exhibition project is funded by the Cultural Foundation of the German Federal States, the Rudolf-August Oetker Foundation and the Friends of Brühl’s Palaces and Gardens Association (e. V.) and the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR).
