Imperial Palace Ingelheim

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, April – Oktober from 10.00-17.00, November – March from 10.00 – 16.00. Closed: On Mondays, except for holidays, and from 23th of December to 5th of January.

The Imperial Palace (German: Kaiserpfalz) in Ingelheim is one of the best researched palaces of the Early Middle Ages and was built at the end of the 8th century by Charlemagne (German: Karl der Große) as a representative palace following the ancient Roman example. In addition to its builder, the Imperial Palace was still used by 17 other emperors and rulers as seat of government and travel accommodation as well for over 500 years. Charles' biographer Einhard described it as the most splendid Imperial Palace besides Aachen and Nijmegen.
In the Late Middle Ages and the modern era, decay and overbuilding resulted to the present appearance of a ruin surrounded by houses built close together.
The town picture of the so-called Saalgebiet district in Ingelheim is thus strongly influenced by the Imperial Palace until today.

The area can be explored both on your own along the Imperial Palace-Trail including numerous information panels, and with the eGuide as well, an electronic, handy guide, which can be borrowed in the museum and navigates the visitor through the outside facilities.
You are also able to book guided tours for groups in different languages.
In the museum it is possible to experience digital, photo-realistic reconstructions of the Imperial Palace, or to view the gold coin of Charlemagne of whose kind only this one coin is known. The coin has an own exhibition area intending to show its special significance.
In the area there also is a near-natural children’s playground and a wedding room, in which couples can get married in a historic backdrop.

Approach:
Leave the A60 motorway at the “Ingelheim-Ost“ exit. From the circle at the townlimit Ingelheim-Ost brown signs lead you to the Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz Ingelheim). Parking spaces are available in Natalie-von-Harder-Straße.
If you want to arrive by train you can take buses 611 and 620 to get to the Imperial Palace area from the train station in less than 10 minutes. Walking takes about 15 minutes.

Prices: The entrance to the Kaiserpfalz and the Museum bei der Kaiserpfalz is free. eGuide: 2€. Open guided tour at 3pm on Saturdays (from April-Oktober, in German): 3€ (children up to and including the age of 10 free). Guided tours for groups with prior registration: 60€ (in English and other languages).