Schloss Schleißheim is a monument to the fantasies of an absolutist ruler and a passionate art collector. Built during the reign of Elector Max Emanuel, the splendid baroque palace was intended as a royal residence, though the Elector himself was forced into exile and never lived here. Building work was begun in 1701 by Zuccalli and continued between 1719-26 by Joseph Effner the Younger. French architectural features are evident in the facade and the building's interior, which is a triumph of elegance. The most impressive rooms are the Große Saal, the Viktoriensaal and the Große Galerie.