Ludwigsburg Palace

Ludwigsburg Palace is one of Europe's largest baroque residences. It was built by order of Duke Eberhard Ludwig von Württemberg (ruled 1693-1733). The Palace was at times one of the most magnificent courts in Europe, however also experienced periods of neglect lasting several generations. Today it is the focus of interest of hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The Old Palace (Altes Schloß) in Stuttgart was built around 941 as a simple water-surrounded castle for protection of a stud farm (in German "Gestüt", from which the original name "Stutengarten" was derived) and expanded up until the Renaissance in the middle of the 16th century as the residence of the counts and dukes of Württemberg.

The squares and buildings surrounding the palace arose as an ensemble with direct reference to this center of royal power, and still mark the appearance of Stuttgart's historic center today. The Württemberg State Museum (Württembergisches Landesmuseum) is housed in the Old Palace.