Palais Sickingen

The Palais Sickingen is a Baroque residence on Salzstrasse in Freiburg displaying 18th-century French classical architecture. This building was reconstructed after World War II damage and stands out in the cityscape with its formal facade and rows of tall windows.

An aristocrat named Ferdinand Sebastian von Sickingen-Hohenburg commissioned architect Pierre Michel d'Ixnard to build this grand residence between 1769 and 1773. The house sustained damage during World War II and was reconstructed in the 1960s before being repurposed as a courthouse.

The von Sickingen family coat of arms displayed on the facade represents the noble standing of the residence and its owners within the city. Visitors can observe how the classical French design conveys the wealth and status of the family through its formal proportions and architectural refinement.

The building is located in central Freiburg and easy to spot thanks to its prominent formal facade along Salzstrasse. Since it now serves as a courthouse, visitors can appreciate the exterior architecture while being mindful of official access restrictions.

The interior once contained some 240 paintings and gilded plaster decorations that made it an exceptionally lavish residence for its time. This artistic splendor was destroyed by war, though the restored facade remains a quiet reminder of its former grandeur.