Hermitage Bayreuth (Eremitage)

The Hermitage (Eremitage) on the eastern edge of Bayreuth is a park of about 52 hectares with palaces, grottoes and fountains. It reached its peak under Margravine Wilhelmine, who created one of the most unconventional Rococo gardens here: instead of strict symmetry you find scattered pavilions, artificial ruins and hidden corners. The gilded Sun Temple between the curved arcades of the New Palace is one of Franconia's best-known sights.

History: court life as hermits

From 1715 Margrave Georg Wilhelm built a small summer palace on old hunting grounds near St. Johannis, today's Old Palace. The court played at being hermits here: they wore brown hermit habits, ate with wooden spoons from plain dishes and spent the day alone in scattered huts. Only when the margrave rang a bell did everyone gather for company. Hence the name Hermitage.

In 1735 Margrave Frederick gave the estate to his wife Wilhelmine for her birthday. She added two wings to the Old Palace with a Japanese cabinet, a music room and the Chinese Mirror Cabinet, where she wrote her memoirs. In the park she planted hedges totalling about 6 km, creating small open-air retreats. The Lower Grotto was begun in 1737, along with the Ruin Theatre, an open-air stage built to look like a ruin. In 1743 Wilhelmine herself acted here, as Roxane in Racine's "Bajazet", alongside Voltaire.

What to see

• New Palace and Sun Temple: built 1749–1753, two curved arcade wings, first used as an orangery, flank a round central building. On its dome Apollo as sun god drives a gilded quadriga.
• Upper Grotto: the large basin in front of the New Palace with sculpture groups and many fountains.
• Lower Grotto: another water feature with fountains, close to the margrave's stone hermitage.
• Old Palace: with the Inner Grotto, whose hidden jets once sprayed unsuspecting ladies of the court, and Wilhelmine's apartments.
• Ruin Theatre and Parnassus: traces of the court festivities, set in the landscape park.

Opening hours and prices (as of October 2026)

• Park: always open.
• Fountains: May to mid-October every hour, at the Great Basin by the New Palace 10:00–17:00, at the Lower Grotto 10:15–17:15. During prolonged drought they run less often, so check current times.
• Old Palace: German-language guided tours only, every 45 minutes, lasting about 45 minutes. April to September 9:00–18:00, 1–18 October 10:00–17:00, closed Mondays except some public holidays. Closed from 19 October to March.
• Admission Old Palace: €6, reduced €5. The "World of Wilhelmine" ticket for €21 also covers the opera house, the New Palace and Sanspareil.

Getting there and timing

From the central bus station take bus 302 to "Eremitage", or from the main station bus 303 to "Ochsenhut". Drivers can park right at the park entrance. Allow 2 to 3 hours for a walk with the fountains and the Old Palace. In winter the park is quiet and open, but the buildings are closed. The Margravial Opera House in the city centre fits well into the same day.