The first Rococo palaces in GermanyAt Brühl, in North Rhine-Westphalia between Cologne and Bonn, stand two former residences of the Prince-Electors and Archbishops of Cologne. The larger summer palace, Augustusburg, and the smaller hunting lodge, Falkenlust, were both built for Clemens August of Bavaria. Regarded as 'the first significant creations of the Rococo style in Germany', the two palaces with their park were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984. AugustusburgBegun in 1725 on the ruins of a medieval moated castle, Augustusburg was built to plans by Johann Conrad Schlaun and continued by François de Cuvilliés the Elder, who shaped its façades and state rooms in the Régence and early Rococo style. Its crowning feature is the ceremonial staircase built by Balthasar Neumann between 1740 and 1746, with a ceiling fresco by Carlo Carlone — one of the masterpieces of German Baroque. The palace served as the elector's summer residence, occupied only a few weeks each year, the main seat being at Bonn. FalkenlustThe hunting lodge Falkenlust was built by Cuvilliés from 1729 to 1737, modelled on the Amalienburg in Munich, for the elector's passion for falconry. A small, exquisite building flanked by two pavilions, it has a rooftop platform for watching the hunt and a staircase decorated with Dutch tiles. Avenues through the park connect it to Augustusburg. Later historyDamaged in the Second World War and since restored, Augustusburg served from 1949 to 1996 as the setting for German state receptions for visiting heads of state. Both palaces and the park are open to visitors, with concerts held in the palace and its church. Location: Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyBuilt: Augustusburg 1725–1768; Falkenlust 1729–1737, for Elector Clemens AugustArchitects: Johann Conrad Schlaun, François de Cuvilliés, Balthasar Neumann (staircase)Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984Visiting: Both palaces and the park open to the public; palace concerts
