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:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1700-1707
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Germany
Historical period: Thirty Years War & Rise of Prussia (Germany)

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Emma Dingman (6 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 (6 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 (14 months ago)
beautiful building, must see
Tim J (14 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 (17 months ago)
Very interesting historical place to visit, especially with a group guide, which we did. Recommended ??
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Gravensteen

The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.

In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.