Rastatt Palace, Rastatt, Germany

Schloss Rastatt is a baroque palace built between 1700 and 1707 by the Italian architect Domenico Egidio Rossi. The palace and garden were built to Margrave Louis William of Baden. During the Palatine war of succession the residence of Margrave Louis William of Baden-Baden had been burnt by French troops. A rebuild of the destroyed castle would not have suited the representative needs of the court of Baden-Baden. Since he also needed a home for his wife Sibylle Auguste of Saxe-Lauenburg, whom he had married in 1690, he had a new residence built in place of the former hunting lodge.

During this operation the 1697 hunting lodge was demolished to leave space for the new castle. The village of Rastatt was promoted to city status in 1700 and the Margrave moved here with his court. The residence in Rastatt is the oldest Baroque residence in the German Upper-Rhine area. It was built according to the example of the French Palace of Versailles. During the 19th century the castle was used as headquarters.

Inside the palace a large staircase with stucco decorations give way to the Beletage. The biggest and most decorated hall is the Ahnensaal. It is decorated with numerous frescoes and shows paintings of ancestors and of captured Ottoman soldiers.

The castle was not damaged during World War II. Today the castle is home of two museums, the military history museum and memorial site for the German liberation movement.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Emma Dingman (3 months ago)
It's a bit tricky if you have mobility issues I wish the tour was in English. We had transcripts in English but I don't think they completely matched what the guide was saying in German Didn't like how the receptionist tried to make me put my purse in a locker-I never let my purse out of my sight

Axel (3 months ago)
Schloss Rastatt is a stunning palace in Germany, steeped in centuries of history. With grand architecture and opulent furnishings, it offers visitors a captivating glimpse into the past. Highly recommended for history enthusiasts and architecture lovers alike!

suuzey (11 months ago)
beautiful building, must see

Tim J (11 months ago)
Sumptuous palace built in the 1700s with a very decadent interior, wonderful ceiling paintings and some interesting artefacts. There is a formal garden/park to the rear which is nice for a stroll. The tours take place fairly frequently and though they are in German, there is written information available on the tour for English or French-speaking visitors. In addition to the tour, there is a small military museum within the castle, covering the period up to and including WW1.

Anna A (14 months ago)
Very interesting historical place to visit, especially with a group guide, which we did. Recommended ??

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The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.

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