AT THE HEIGHT OF THE TIMES OF PRINCE ABBOTS

State Rooms of the Residence

Want to feel like a prince abbot?

Religious architecture, strong colours, and living rooms in a Baroque and Rococo style – welcome to the State Rooms of the Residence Kempten.

Take a guided tour through these impressive living rooms of the former prince abbots and soak up the atmosphere. High-quality sculptures and paintings as well as decorative religious elements give the rooms their brilliant, imposing feel. A banqueting hall, antechamber and audience chamber, living rooms and bedrooms date back to the late Regency style. The rather imposing throne hall is the highlight of the guided tour and also that of the Bavarian Rococo period. You are only allowed to walk on the priceless floors of the state rooms with soft felt shoes in order to protect the surface. A lift offers unrestricted access to the State Rooms.

History of the State Rooms

A Benedictine monastery was founded on the grounds of the Residence around 750 AD, but it was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War. In 1651, Prince Abbot Roman Giel von Gielsberg commissioned the constuction of a new church and residence building as the first Baroque monestery complex in Germany. He appointed Michael Beer, from Vorarlberg, as master builder, who was succeeded in 1654 by Johann Serro from the Grisons.

Mill wheel in front of Kempten Residence

Prince Abbott Anselm von Reichlin-Meldegg arranged for the furnishing of the prince abbot's living quarters and the banqueting hall between 1732 and 1742.
Today the Residence is home to the local and district courts. The State Rooms, just like Neuschwanstein Castle in Füssen, are managed by the Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen (Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Castles, Gardens and Lakes).

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For your visit to the Residence Kempten

Two halls within the Residence can be rented for private or business purposes: the Court Garden Hall (Hofgartensaal) and the Prince's Hall (Fürstensaal). In addition, the Residenzhof is the scene of cultural events and gives the events a very special flair.

Virtual visit

Take a look around!

Want to get a glimpse of the State Rooms up-close? If so, we highly recommend this video. Get an impression of the glamorous rooms at the Residence Kempten and be enchanted by the splendour of centuries gone by.

EXPLORE THE ALLGÄU METROPOLIS

Supporting programme

After you have visited the State Rooms of the Residence, choose from one of the many restaurants and cafes in Kempten’s centre to recover your strength and allow your impressions to settle down in your mind.

You can learn more about the history of Kempten on numerous guided tours as well as at the museum in the nearby Zumsteinhaus. Access is unlimited and admission is free of charge.

GASTRONOMY

Cafes, restaurants and pubs

guided tours

City and adventure tours

Arrival, parking & public transport

You will find all the important information and notes on your journey to Kempten, on-site parking, public transport and mobility in Kempten and the Allgäu on the respective pages.

arrival parking public transport

State Rooms of the Residence

Want to feel like a prince abbot?

History of the State Rooms

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