On April 8, 2025, the Amberg-Sulzbach State Building Authority presented the next steps for the comprehensive general renovation of Erlangen Palace (Photo: City of Erlangen Press Office rh) to the City Council's Environment, Transport and Planning Committee. The baroque building is to be completely renovated and restructured for modern, future-oriented use. It was built between 1700 and 1704 and has been the seat of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg since 1825.
As part of the preliminary design plans that have now been presented, the floor plans of the palace have been revised. Various preparatory studies are currently underway. These include, among other things, a so-called deformation-oriented survey - i.e. a precise measurement of the building. Unevenness, misalignments and structural deviations from the ideal state are also being precisely documented. In addition, pollutant investigations and structural analyses of the existing building fabric are carried out in order to assess the load-bearing capacity and stability of the building in detail.
The refurbishment - what is done
- As part of the general refurbishment, the natural stone façade of the castle, including the historical figures on the parapet, will be restored
- A new fire protection concept will ensure greater safety in future, including additional escape routes. Contaminated areas in the building will also be professionally removed.
- The basement areas of the castle will be extended to create additional usable space.
- Energy renovation measures, for example to improve thermal insulation, are also part of the overall package, as is the structural strengthening of the building to improve its stability.
- The castle will also be made barrier-free so that it will be fully accessible to everyone in future.
For further elements of the planning for the future, the highest design requirements as "urban building blocks" must be placed on such landmark monuments as the castle in connection with a municipal monument concept with regard to solar systems.
The schedule
In a two-stage process, first a so-called project document and then a detailed project plan will be drawn up. Both planning phases must be examined and approved by the budget committee of the Bavarian state parliament. Construction work is scheduled to begin at the end of 2027, with completion of the renovation scheduled for 2032.
The construction site
Events such as the city beach, the Christmas market and the International Comic Salon will still be able to take place during the construction work after the start of construction. The construction site will be set up on the east side of the palace. On the Schlossplatz side, only scaffolding is required on the façade. Only minor restrictions are also expected in the palace garden itself. Most of the garden will remain open to the public. The trees and their roots in the area of the construction site will be secured by special protective measures. The path on the north side of the palace, i.e. between Schlossplatz and the Orangery, will remain fully accessible.