Ever wondered how a citizen can display his wealth like royalty? Look at the Böttingerhaus. This city palace tells a story of ambition and architectural finesse.
The Böttingerhaus is one of Southern Germany’s most significant baroque buildings. It stands proudly on Judenstrasse. Once called Prellhaus, the Böttingerhaus showcases a citizen’s rise in the 18th century.
Johann Ignaz Michael Tobias Böttinger commissioned the Böttingerhaus. Construction spanned from 1707 to 1713. Böttinger was a privy councillor. He clearly wanted to impress. The Böttingerhaus was designed like an Italian palazzo. It showcased Böttinger’s prosperity. He came from a humble background.
Böttinger owned other impressive properties. These included Villa Concordia, his estate on Milchweg, his country house in Stegaurach and a small palace in Kolmsdorf.
The architect of the Böttingerhaus remains a mystery. Some believe it was Maximilian von Welsch. Newer research suggests Johann Ammon.
The facade had to fit into the city’s tight layout. This posed a challenge. The facade has eleven axes. It is divided into a main building with five axes. Two side buildings each have three axes. These jut back towards Unterer Stephansberg.
The decoration adapts to limited space and light. Usually, the decoration is richest on the first floor. It decreases with each higher story. At the Böttingerhaus, the opposite is true. Decoration increases with each level. Even the dormers are heavily adorned.
Inside the Böttingerhaus, you find an impressive staircase. Rooms are lavishly decorated. The courtyard is ornate. Johann Jakob Vogel created the stucco. He was very active in Bamberg at the time. Johann Georg Bogner and Johann Jakob Gebhard painted the murals. A unique feature is the connection to the garden. Terraces are accessible from every floor of the rear wing.
Götz Freiherr von Pölnitz bought the house in 1955. He renovated it. Later, Hamburg architect Jost Schramm acquired the Böttingerhaus. He renovated it extensively completing the work in 1982. An old glass gallery was replaced with a functional building. This eliminated disruptive pillars in the courtyard. Today, Richard H. Mayer owns the Böttingerhaus. He is an art dealer from Bamberg. Since 1992, the palace has housed galleries. These galleries feature old and contemporary art.
August Prell, a publisher and journalist, was born in the Böttingerhaus. The Böttingerhaus is more than just a beautiful building. It embodies Bamberg’s rich history. It reflects the ambitions of its commissioner. Its architecture adapted to the constraints of the city. The Böttingerhaus remains a remarkable landmark.