Neuburg an der Donau

Neuburg rises above the Danube, its palace overlooking the river from the old Bavarian town. In 1505 a dispute between branches of the Wittelsbach family created the principality of Palatinate-Neuburg, with Neuburg as its residence. Count Palatine Ottheinrich began rebuilding the ducal castle in Renaissance style in 1530, making his court a centre of art and the early Reformation.

The palace chapel was adorned with Lutheran paintings by Hans Bocksberger, while biblical scenes in the courtyard were added under Count Palatine Wolfgang between 1560 and 1562. A century later Philipp Wilhelm built a Baroque east wing between two great round towers. The rulers of Neuburg acquired Jülich and Berg on the lower Rhine and formed connections across Europe. In 1806 Neuburg became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.