Maison de plaisance

In Renaissance and Early Modern German architecture, a Lustschloss (French: maison de plaisance, English: pleasure palace) is a small palace which served the private pleasure of its owner, usually the ruler of the area it is located in, and was seasonally inhabited as a respite from court ceremonies and state duties. In France, the château de Madrid in the Bois de Boulogne, easily reached from Paris, set an example, and Louis XIV similarly retreated from onerous ceremonial at Versailles to his château of Marly.

Lustschloss is often loosely used interchangeably with Jagdschloss, for both served as non-formal residences, but a Jagdschloss was a hunting retreat and was usually used to host a ruler and his hunting party.

At the beginning of the Renaissance, a desire for non-military residences arose amongst the nobility and they slowly left their old fortified castles, or altered them into stately homes. In the course of the years, many aristocratic family seats grew into big estates; at the same time, the court ceremonial changed. Now, the prince stood more and more in the centre of a luxurious royal household that reached its zenith during absolutism. The nobility surrounded themselves with artists, courtiers, envoys, servants and petitioners. Often the residences overflowed with guests.

The desire for greater intimacy led to the construction of the Lustschloss, to which often only certain circles of acquaintances were invited. Here its owners could withdraw with their family and relatives. The Lustschloss was above all a place for parties, dancing and music. It was also frequently used for literature and painting. This distinguished it from the main residence, which was often nearby. The latter served the state, in which etiquette had to be protected.

The most popular architectural styles for these particular castles were baroque and rococo, which both displayed a sense of wealth. The Lustschloss was often located in a splendid castle park, mostly distinguished by especially extensive and valuable decorations. At the same time the rooms and drawing rooms became more intimate and more comfortable. Significant artists from their respective region would work on many of their paintings in the castle. Famous examples are the Grand Trianon and the Petit Trianon in the gardens of Versailles, the Castle Marly-le-Roi (Château de Marly), and the Amalienburg in the Schlosspark of Nymphenburg.

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