Location: Trier, Germany
Itinerary and full experience of my visit to Germany can be accessed through the link below:
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Almost every famous cities or towns in Germany has a castle or palace, which are as ubiquitous as an aging church in the country. Trier's own representative is the Electoral Palace, an elaborate Rococo beauty situated close to the heart of the historic town center and adorned with spacious Palace Gardens. During my visit it was unfortunately not opened for visit - I realized only quite late that it was still used presently as a district administration office and not opened regularly for public visit. It was a pity because a beautiful Rococo staircase adorned the palace's interior and it would be great to see it up close.
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| The beautiful south wing facade of Trier's Electoral Palace |
Although I couldn't enter the palace, even its front was a thing of beauty. To be exact, it was not the front that I was looking at but the south wing - the Rococo facade was an extension of Aula Palatina, the Roman basilica that contrasted starkly with administrative center. The beautiful south wing was commissioned by Archbishop Philipp von Walderdorff in 1756 and designed by Johannes Seiz, whom we have to thank for the photogenic facade.
The beauty of the facade was not limited to its pink hues or crimson shades - one could spot the various intricate sculptures adorning the balcony and columns, each with its own emotions frozen into marble, from the mischievous cherubs to the seductive nymphs. To the front of the entrance were an assortment of marble statues silently watching the gardens, their marble textures aged with mold and dirt in nooks and crannies.
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| Silent guardians overlooking the gardens |
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| The facade over the entrance of the south wing was more elaborately decorated than the rest. |
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| White, red and gold |
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| Emblem |
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| Over the roof |
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| Fighting over grapes? |
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| Putting the swag back into the cherubs |
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| Giggles |
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| Part of the facade was under repair (or was it restoration?) so I could only always take this half of the facade. |
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| Sphinx under the sun |
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| Secret garden |
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| The Baroque Palace Gardens |
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| Spring |
The marble statues were not limited to the immediate vicinity of the south wing. Wandering around the palace gardens, I admired each one of them up close, amazed by how craftsmen of the past could command the rock hard marbles to create art that simulated smooth skins and flowing robes. It was especially mesmerizing to walk in the Baroque gardens in a spring morning, more so when the magnolia trees were blossoming in the company of sculpted beauties. I could only imagine how much more beautiful it would become were the garden to bloom fully in summer.
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| The greens were not in yet, it should be quite lively during summer. |
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| Relaxing view of a reflecting pool and delicate marble statues |
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| Shall I read you a poem? |
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| Someone placed a colorful wreath over this gentleman, which is quite a nice touch. |
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| Under the magnolia bloom |
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| I love the magnolia blossom, do you? |
Despite the fact that I couldn't enter the palace, the Electoral Palace and its surrounding Palace Gardens remained one of my highly recommended place to visit when you are in Trier. One point to note though: both were not part of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed sites. However you should not let that stop you from some time here. I suspect that you would be drawn here anyway.
<- previous: Aula Palatina (UNESCO World Heritage)
next: Roman Bridge (UNESCO World Heritage) ->
Environment: A beautiful palace in a beautiful garden
Suitable for: History buffs, architecture admirers
Visit worthiness: 9/10 (it be much nicer if you can enter the palace)
Entrance Fee: unknown
Historical value: 5.0/5.0
Architectural value: 5.0/5.0
Photographic value: 4.0/5.0
Landmark value: 5.0/5.0
Landmark value: 5.0/5.0
Entrance Fee: unknown
Opening Hours: unknown
Best Moment to Visit: unknown
Length of Visit: <1 hour (for Palace Gardens)
E-mail: -
Address: Willy-Brandt-Platz 3, 54290 Trier, Germany
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