The Hofkirche at the Würzburg Residenz Castle is a groundbreaking special creation by Balthasar Neumann. Due to its elaborate embellishments, the church is considered an absolute highlight of Baroque architecture. Albeit small in size, it is one of the most perfect sacral buildings of 18th century Germany.
The Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung extensively renovated the church from 2009 to 2012. The work included restoration of the walls and ceiling frescos, plus a new roof, the renovation of the vaulted ceilings and an upgrade to the pipe organ. The total cost of the restoration came to around €3.5 million.
The interior of the Hofkirche at the Würzburg Residenz fittingly has been dubbed a “magnificent and never ending feast for the eyes.” Yet, that magnificence had started to crumble. Above the main ledge, the golden stucco and marbling showed evidence of decay, such as cracks and bubbling. In many places, the substance of the walls and ceilings had become so compromised, pieces of stucco had already broken off. Action had to be taken quickly.
The completed restoration or the Hofkirche is the preliminary end of an enormous restoration project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Würzburg Residenz Castle. The renovations took many years to complete and included the While Hall, the grand staircase, and the Imperior Hall.
Moving the main entrance of the Hofkirche to the south side of the courtyard alleviated issues related to micro climate and helped with preservation.
Detailed information about the completed restoration can be found at www.restaurierung-hofkirche.de
Photo: Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung: Photo: U. Gaasch