A Guide to Hermitage in Bayreuth
Read our travel guide on Bayreuth's Hermitage (Eremitage), Germany. It includes the best things to do and see, tips on how to get, where to stay, and when to go.
If you're looking for the best things to do in Bayreuth, the nearby Hermitage should be on your list.
This inconspicuous town is mostly known for its stunning Margravial Opera House (UNESCO site), but there are a few more places worth seeing.
The New Palace Bayreuth and the just-mentioned Hermitage are fine examples of that.
So why should you visit Hermitage Bayreuth?
It's an extensive complex consisting of a well-landscaped park and gardens, two palaces, fountains, paths, grottos, gazebos, and even an open-air Roman theater.
While the locals love this place, international visitors often skip it in favor of more popular towns and attractions.
So, if you want to include a few less-traveled places in your Bavaria itinerary, Hermitage might be a great choice.
So here's everything you should know about Hermitage in Bayreuth before you go.
Visiting the Hermitage in Bayreuth
Before we dive into it, there's one more thing that we need to clarify, as it might be confusing for first-time visitors.
Hermitage is a large park complex about five kilometers from Bayreuth, including an Old Palace (Altes Schloss) and a New Palace (Neues Schloss).
The confusing part is that you will also find an Old Palace and New Palace in Bayreuth's town center.
If you want to make things even a bit more confusing, note that guided tours are available only in the New Palace Bayreuth and the Old Palace Hermitage.
Anyway, with that off my mind, we can now focus on the Hermitage.
Hermitage
Hermitage means a hermit's habitat, but it's also used for any secluded place of residence or a retreat (hideaway, etc.).
Due to the sprawling St. Johannis (Bayreuth's outskirts), the Hermitage doesn't feel that remote or secluded today.
However, after a few minutes in the park, you can still get the idea why they came up with this name three hundred years ago.
History
The Hermitage's origin dates back to the early 1600s, but it was Margrave Georg Wilhelm who commissioned a new palace to be built in this area in 1715.
This was an untouched forested area encompassed by Roter Main from three sides, a perfect place for a 'simple life' of the margravial court.
In 1735, the margrave showed it to his wife, Wilhelmine, who took a great interest in the area and was heavily involved in further development.
In the following years, Wilhelmine decided to redesign the gardens, introduce new architectural elements, extend and modernize the Old Palace, and commission the building of a New Palace.
Bayreuth became part of Bavaria at the beginning of the 19th century, and members of the royal family used the Hermitage for vacation purposes.
We visited Bayreuth's Hermitage early in the morning on a weekday.
A mass of cold air arrived in Bavaria during the night, and after the first few sunny days we had in Regensburg and Nuremberg, the temperatures significantly dropped.
It was not as cold as in Legoland or Augsburg a few days later, but still pretty chilly.
So, one of the first things we immediately noticed about Hermitage was that the gardens felt quiet.
Apart from a few locals with dogs on a leash who came here from a nearby village for a morning walk, a couple of fellow travelers, and a gardener, the park was completely deserted.
The park was already pretty green, and plenty of flowers were blooming, but we felt we were still there a few weeks early.
Another thing worth noting was that the water fountains were still closed.
They do turn off the fountains during the off-season due to cold weather (and other reasons such as water conservation), so you need to arrive from May to October to see them in action (note that the fountains shoot water only every hour).
Even though we might sound overly negative on the first impressions, we just want to say that if you come here just for the gardens, late May, June, and the summer months will provide a better experience.
So enough of pessimism for now.
The main upside of being there a bit early was that we had basically the whole Hermitage for ourselves.
Sure, it's not fair to compare it to places such as Neuschwanstein or nearby Hohenschwangau, some of Bavaria's most iconic sites.
They are popular for a reason.
But being able to enjoy a lovely walk without being surrounded by hundreds of people was a nice change for us.
The trails were well-maintained, and even though not paved, they looked suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.
Another huge reason Hermitage is worth seeing is that the whole complex is fun to explore.
The area map contains almost 30 points of interest, including the Chinese Pavilion, a water cascade, a statue of Socrates, a hedge garden, a grotto, Monplaisir House, a ruined theater, a birdhouse, a garden canal, and much more.
There is something to discover on every corner. It might sound a bit tacky, but it's not.
Of course, the main highlight of every visit to the Hermitage is the Old and New Palaces.
Old Palace (Altes Schloss)
The Old Palace in Hermitage is dwarfed by places such as Wurzburg Residence or Munich Residence.
On the other hand, it offers a more intimate experience and much fewer crowds.
From the beginning, we knew we wanted to visit the new Palace and the Margravial Opera House in the town, so we gave the Old Palace in Hermitage a pass.
We agreed that seeing two palaces in one day and an opera house on top of that would be simply too much for our brains to handle, so we enjoyed it just from the outside.
Another reason why we didn't go inside was that the guided tours were only available in German (though you get an English guide).
If you decide to go inside, you will be able to see some beautiful rooms, such as a Music Room, a Chinese Mirror Cabinet (here Wilhelmine wrote her memoirs), and a Japanese Cabinet.
New Palace
While the Old Palace has lavishly decorated interiors, it looks pretty ordinary from the outside. New Palace is the exact opposite.
The interiors were badly damaged during WW2 air raids, so the structure today houses a cafe and event rooms.
On the other hand, the almost fairytale exteriors offer a completely different story. Interestingly enough, the New Palace is not a typical palace.
It's technically a U-shaped complex consisting of a small temple with two arcades formerly used as a winter garden and aviary.
The structure in the middle is known as the Temple of the Sun, representing Apollo's Temple Of the Sun (Apollo was one of the major Greek deities).
The scene shows Apollo, the god of the sun, driving the 4-horse chariot and pulling the sun across the sky every day, with the pool, flowers, and birds representing the earth and some of its elements.
The exterior walls and columns are decorated with blue, red, and yellow rock crystals, giving the New Palace a unique look and reminding us of some of Bangkok's temples (no matter how odd it might sound).
Opening Hours
As we mentioned earlier, Bayreuth's Hermitage complex consists of two places.
The park is basically always open, which means it's accessible any day of the week, no matter the season.
However, the Old Palace has seasonal opening times. It's open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM from April to September.
In October (between 1st and 15th), it's open from 10 AM to 4 PM. The Old Palace is closed from the 16th of October to March.
So, while you can still explore the gardens here, be prepared that you can't tour the castle during the off-season.
Entrance Fee
Bayreuth's Hermitage gardens are free to enter, which is great news for those visiting Germany on a budget.
The entrance fee to the Old Palace is €4.50 for adults, including the guided tour.
You can also purchase a combo ticket at a reduced price that grants you a visit to all the major attractions Bayreuth has to offer.
How Much Time Do I Need
The guided tour of the Old Palace takes about 45 minutes, and you will need about an hour to walk around the park.
However, you can stay in the Hermitage basically as long as you want, as the park has no opening times.
When to Go
This is basically a beautiful park with two palaces, a few additional structures, and well-maintained walking trails ideal for strolls.
So it's not surprising that Bayreuth's Hermitage is best visited from late spring to early fall.
Thanks to great weather, summer is the most popular time to see the Hermitage, but be prepared for bigger crowds (and higher prices for hotels).
Not just here but in pretty much all Bavarian tourist destinations.
Spring and fall are ideal for those who prefer a more relaxing experience.
The weather can be unpredictable during this period (as we've already mentioned), so be prepared for it.
Hermitage remains open through winter, but the weather can be quite chilly, and days are pretty short.
Keep in mind that the Old Palace is closed from October to March, so no guided tours are available during this time.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
What to Pack
For starters, comfortable shoes are a must. Hermitage has numerous walking paths suitable for all ages and abilities, so you do plenty of walking here.
Pack breathable clothing during summer, and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, as the temperatures during summer are typically high.
Outside this season, pack clothing according to the weather (think layers to stay nice and warm).
An umbrella or rain jacket should be in your daypack no matter when you visit, but these items come in handy, especially during spring and autumn.
How to Get There
Hermitage is located about 5 kilometers east of Bayreuth. There are several ways to get to Bayreuth's Hermitage, including by car, bus, bike, or foot.
Car
We visited this site during our Bavaria road trip, so we believe the easiest and most convenient way to reach Hermitage is by car.
The complex is only a 5-minute drive from the town.
Hermitage is about 90 kilometers from Nuremberg, 70 kilometers from Bamberg, 150 kilometers from Regensburg, and 230 kilometers from Munich.
Travel Resources
When renting a car, we use Rentalcars.com.
Parking
Bayreuth's Hermitage has a large parking lot that is located right next to the park entrance, about 500 meters from the castles.
Parking is free at Parkplatz Eremitage.
Bus
A local bus connects Bayreuth's town center with Hermitage.
You can hop on the bus at the Bayreuth Opernhaus stop and get off at the Eremitage or Ochsenhut stops.
On Foot
If you want to stay active during your trip to Bayreuth, you can easily get to Hermitage on foot.
The trail along the Roter Main and through the Wilhelminenaue is a bit longer but more relaxing and scenic.
The main upside is that you won't walk along a busy road; you will also get to explore another lovely park in Bayreuth.
If you're moderately fit, you can tackle the 5-kilometer walk in about an hour.
Bike
If you don't feel like walking, you can rent a bike in Bayreuth. You can follow the same path mentioned in the walking section above.
Where to Stay
When it comes to accommodation, there are not many options near Hermitage.
Luckily, the town of Bayreuth has some really good budget and mid-range hotels.
We recommend staying in the town center area where you'll find other tourist attractions such as Neues Schloss or Margravial Opera House.
So here are a few tips on the best hotels in Bayreuth.
Budget | ibis Styles Bayreuth - With a contemporary design, affordable rooms, on-site parking, and a great location, ibis Styles Bayreuth is a great place to stay.
Mid-range | H4 Hotel Residenzschloss Bayreuth - This popular hotel has a central location, comfortable rooms, buffet breakfast, and on-site parking.
Is Hermitage Bayreuth Worth Visiting?
If you're in the area and love history and less-known places, Hermitage Bayreuth is worth seeing.
It has two palaces and a beautiful park, and it's not overrun by tourists. Plus, it's only a short drive from Bayreuth's town center.
Hermitage also has historical importance as there weren't any similar gardens in Germany during the 18th century.
If you plan on visiting the New Palace and Margravial Opera House, Hermitage is the final piece showcasing the life of Margravine Wilhelmine and her family during the mid-18th century.
Admittedly, you will definitely find more famous and impressive palaces in Bavaria, so you need to decide for yourself whether it's worth it.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
