Castle Solitude
| Castle Solitude | |
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| Schloss Solitude | |
Baden-Württemberg's Coat of Arms
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Castle Solitude
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 Castle Solitude
Location in Baden-Württemberg
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| Etymology | Solitude (French: Loneliness), the lonely Schloss |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Schloss |
| Architectural style | Neoclassic |
| Classification | Palace |
| Location | Baden-Württemberg |
| Address | Solitude 1, 70197 Stuttgart, Germany |
| Town or city | Weilimdorf |
| Country | Germany |
| Coordinates | 48°47′13″N 9°5′3″E / 48.78694°N 9.08417°ECoordinates: 48°47′13″N 9°5′3″E / 48.78694°N 9.08417°E |
| Groundbreaking | 1763 |
| Construction started | 1764 |
| Completed | 1767 |
| Opened | 1769 |
| Renovated | 1972 - 1983 |
| Client | Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Philippe de La Guêpière |
| Known for | Housing the Karlsschule, Friederich Schiller |
| Website | |
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Castle Solitude (English: Loneliness) is a Rococo Schloss (German: palace) (thus not a true castle) and hunting retreat commissioned by Duke Charles Eugene, designed by Johann Friedrich Weyhing and Philippe de La Guêpière, and constructed from 1764-69. Since 1956 the area is part of the urban district of Stuttgart-West despite the castle being located just southeast of the town of Gerlingen. Solitude is located on an elongated ridge between the towns of Leonberg, Gerlingen and Stuttgart. The castle offers views to the north over the towns of Weilimdorf, Korntal and Ludwigsburg and the Württemberg lowlands around Ludwigsburg.
On April 1, 1942, Schloss Solitude was incorporated into Stuttgart. Since 1956, Schloss Solitude has been part of Stuttgart-West.
The construction period was characterized by political and financial adversity. The Schloss was commissioned Duke Charles Eugene as a refugium, a place of quiet reflection and solitude (he had recently made the questionable decision to take Württemberg into the Seven Years' War on the losing side against Prussia). The Duke hired a commission of architects led by Philippe de La Guêpière and planning began in 1763. Problems arose, however: money from the Duke was running low (construction costs were already exceeding what the Duchy had allocated), and construction stalled. Further political struggles between the Duke and influential Stuttgart land barons led to the Duke temporarily abandoning Stuttgart in favor of the palace in Ludwigsburg. The Duke shifted his attention to Hohenheim in 1775. In the long run, the castle was prohibitively expensive to keep just as a temporary residence.
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Wikipedia