Weikersheim Palace

Weikersheim Palace (Schloss Weikersheim) is a Renaissance palace in the Tauber Valley of northern Baden-Württemberg and the ancestral seat of the Hohenlohe family. Its highlights are a splendid knights' hall with a painted coffered ceiling and a Baroque garden with a gallery of stone dwarfs, the only fully preserved ensemble of its kind in Germany. It is a good day trip if you like palaces without the big crowds.

Where it is and how to get there

The palace stands on the market square of Weikersheim, a small town on the Tauber River near Bad Mergentheim. Take Deutsche Bahn to Bad Mergentheim and change to the regional train to Weikersheim; the Deutschlandticket is valid on regional services. A bus also runs between Crailsheim and Bad Mergentheim. By car, use the free "Heiliges Wöhr" parking lot. The pedestrian bridge from the "Tauberwiesen" lot, which is meant for coaches and motorhomes, has been closed since September 28, 2026.

Why it matters

Weikersheim has belonged to the Hohenlohe family since 1244, and a moated castle stood here by the 12th century. Count Wolfgang II of Hohenlohe-Langenburg moved his residence here in 1586 and had the old moated castle turned into a Renaissance palace from 1595. The medieval keep was kept and given a Baroque cap. The knights' hall, with a freestanding coffered ceiling painted with hunting scenes, is the core of the palace. In the early 18th century a three-axis Baroque garden was added.

What to see

• Knights' hall: The large hexagonal ceiling panels show scenes of big-game hunting, matched by stucco figures on the walls.
• Palace chapel: Plain by design, yet its gallery balustrades carry ten stucco reliefs of biblical scenes.
• Dwarf gallery: Part of the garden's roughly 100 stone figures.
• Garden and orangery: The garden was named "Garden of the Year" in 2013 by the state palaces administration.
• Music academy: The palace is home to an international music academy and holds concerts throughout the year.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

The garden is open Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., through October 31 (last entry 5:30 p.m.), and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 1 to March 31. It is closed on Mondays. The palace interior can only be seen on a guided tour: the short tour lasts about 60 minutes (9 euros), the long tour about 80 minutes (11 euros), with reduced and family rates available. Two apartments in one wing have been closed for restoration since September 15, 2026. A combination ticket also covers the Residenzschloss in nearby Bad Mergentheim. Please ask in advance whether English-language tours are available by calling +49 7934 99295-0.

Practical tips

Plan two to three hours. The garden is wheelchair accessible, but the palace is not. Leashed dogs are welcome in the garden, not inside. Bags larger than A4 and backpacks are not allowed inside the palace; lockers are provided.