Donaustauf Palace

In 1812, Karl Alexander, 5th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (1770-1827) acquired a monastery building, which formerly belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Regensburg.

[1] Under the 6th prince, Maximilian Karl von Thurn and Taxis (1802-1871), who married to Princess Mathilde Sophie of Oettingen-Oettingen and Oettingen-Spielberg (1816-1886) in 1839, the palace became the preferred summer residence as they were drawn to the romantic scenery of the Danube valley.

Only the designs by Ludwig Voltz remain, the architect responsible for the neogothic renovation of the other princely summer residence, Schloss Taxis.

On 4 March 1880, the palace and many other buildings on the Danube banks in Donaustauf became victim of a large fire.

[1][2] In addition, the head of the princely house of Thurn and Taxis still bears the title 'Duke of Wörth and Donaustauf', which was bestowed to them by the King of Bavaria in 1899.

Donaustauf with the palace right below and the Walhalla memorial in the background
Reconstruction and plan of Donaustauf palace at an information column at the palace's former location in Donaustauf
A non-executed neogothic design for the palace by Ludwig Voltz (1846)
Donaustauf palace after the fire in 1880
Chinese Tower in the princely gardens