Schwetzingen Palace: A Miniature of Versailles in Germany

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we see a palace known more for its gardens than its buildings.
Schwetzingen Palace: A Miniature of Versailles in Germany
In this aerial view, Schwetzingen Palace is surrounded by a French-style Baroque garden, characterized by flower borders, hedge zones, and water features, reminiscent of Versailles. Courtesy of the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg/Achim Mende
Ariane Triebswetter
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Schwetzingen Palace was once the summer residence of the prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. With its eclectic architecture and beautiful gardens, it is often considered a miniature version of Versailles, the palace of Louis XIV.

Records from 1350 mention that the palace, located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, was a moated castle. Over the centuries, the structure transformed into a hunting lodge, which was destroyed during the 16th century. In 1697, Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm II rebuilt the original structure and extended it, adding two wings to the one-story building and a forecourt. In 1720, his successor, Charles III Philip, used it as a summer residence and laid the foundation stone for the palace garden.

Ariane Triebswetter
Ariane Triebswetter
Author
Ariane Triebswetter is an international freelance journalist, with a background in modern literature and classical music.