Heidecksburg Palace

Heidecksburg Palace (Residenzschloss Heidecksburg) in Rudolstadt is a Baroque palace that stands about 200 feet (60 m) above the old town, on a ridge above the Saale river in Thuringia. It was the residence of the counts and princes of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and now houses the Thuringian State Museum, with a picture gallery, porcelain and princely apartments. It draws more than 100,000 visitors a year and is a good stop for anyone exploring palaces in Thuringia.

Where it is and how to get there

Rudolstadt lies on the Saale between Jena and Saalfeld, roughly an hour by car from Erfurt or Weimar. The palace address is Schloßbezirk 1. The route up from town is uphill, so allow some extra time. We found no reliable information on parking, so ask the museum (+49 3672 429022) if you drive.

Why it is worth a visit

A castle stood here in the 13th century and was destroyed in 1345. After a Renaissance rebuild in 1571, a fire in 1735 damaged the palace, and rebuilding in the Baroque style began in 1737 under Johann Christoph Knöffel. Gottfried Heinrich Krohne completed much of the interior, including the festival hall. The picture gallery holds roughly 1,100 works, including Morning Mist in the Mountains by Caspar David Friedrich.

What to see

• Picture gallery: the best-known piece is the Friedrich painting.
• Princely living rooms: a view of courtly life in a small German state.
• Porcelain gallery: a porcelain collection.
• Rococo en miniature: miniature scenes in the former court kitchen.
• Natural History Museum: inside the palace, popular with children.

Important: the festival rooms are closed

The palace's festival rooms are closed until further notice because of renovation. The other areas remain open, so you can still see the living rooms, the picture gallery and the porcelain gallery, but not the famous festival hall.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

From April to October the palace is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from November to March Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays except public holidays. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The website last listed admission at 8 euros for adults, 5 euros reduced, 18 euros for families, and free for children up to 14; the rooms outside the festival halls cost 6 euros. The price page is not fully up to date, so confirm the current price before you go. Tickets can be booked online.

Tips for visitors

Plan two hours. The palace grounds close in the evening, so leave by about 6:30 p.m. We found no information on accessibility, so contact the museum if you need step-free access.

Nearby

The museum network also includes Schwarzburg Castle, the hunting lodge at Paulinzella and the Friedrich Fröbel Museum in Bad Blankenburg. A combined ticket for the Schwarzburg castles is available.