Castle Solitude in Germany (also known as Solitude Palace), was built as a hunting lodge between 1764 and 1769 under Duke
Karl EugenKarl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg was the eldest son of Duke Karl I Alexander and Maria Augusta Anna of Thurn and Taxis .- Maternal ancestry :...
of
WürttembergWürttemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. It is not a true
castleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
, but rather a
rococoRococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings...
palaceA palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome...
. Since 1956 the area has belonged to the urban district of Stuttgart-West. The castle lies on a high plain between the towns of
LeonbergLeonberg is a town in the German federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg about 10 miles to the west of Stuttgart, the state capital. Approximately 45,000 people live in Leonberg, making it the third biggest borough in the rural district of Böblingen .Leonberg is most famous for its picturesque market...
,
GerlingenGerlingen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km west of Stuttgart, and 15 km southwest of Ludwigsburg. It is twinned with the British town Seaham, situated on the coast of north-east England and French town Vesoul....
and
StuttgartStuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
city. The castle offers views to the north over
WeilimdorfWeilimdorf is a north-western suburb of the German city of Stuttgart and covers an area of 12,6 km² with a population of around 30,0001 . It first became part of Stuttgart in 1933 and until that time was a separate entity with its own administration which was then subsumed into the...
,
KorntalKorntal-Münchingen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated at the northwestern border of Stuttgart and 8 km of its centre, and 10 km southwest of Ludwigsburg...
and
LudwigsburgLudwigsburg is a city in Germany, about north of Stuttgart's city center, near the river Neckar. It is the capital of the Ludwigsburg District , and belongs to the Stuttgart Region in the Administrative region of Stuttgart.- History :The middle of Neckarland, in which Ludwigsburg lies, was...
.
Schloss Solitude was originally designed to act as a
refugium, a place of quiet, reflection and solitude (thus the name).
Castle Solitude in Germany (also known as Solitude Palace), was built as a hunting lodge between 1764 and 1769 under Duke
Karl EugenKarl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg was the eldest son of Duke Karl I Alexander and Maria Augusta Anna of Thurn and Taxis .- Maternal ancestry :...
of
WürttembergWürttemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. It is not a true
castleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
, but rather a
rococoRococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings...
palaceA palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome...
. Since 1956 the area has belonged to the urban district of Stuttgart-West. The castle lies on a high plain between the towns of
LeonbergLeonberg is a town in the German federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg about 10 miles to the west of Stuttgart, the state capital. Approximately 45,000 people live in Leonberg, making it the third biggest borough in the rural district of Böblingen .Leonberg is most famous for its picturesque market...
,
GerlingenGerlingen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km west of Stuttgart, and 15 km southwest of Ludwigsburg. It is twinned with the British town Seaham, situated on the coast of north-east England and French town Vesoul....
and
StuttgartStuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
city. The castle offers views to the north over
WeilimdorfWeilimdorf is a north-western suburb of the German city of Stuttgart and covers an area of 12,6 km² with a population of around 30,0001 . It first became part of Stuttgart in 1933 and until that time was a separate entity with its own administration which was then subsumed into the...
,
KorntalKorntal-Münchingen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated at the northwestern border of Stuttgart and 8 km of its centre, and 10 km southwest of Ludwigsburg...
and
LudwigsburgLudwigsburg is a city in Germany, about north of Stuttgart's city center, near the river Neckar. It is the capital of the Ludwigsburg District , and belongs to the Stuttgart Region in the Administrative region of Stuttgart.- History :The middle of Neckarland, in which Ludwigsburg lies, was...
.
History
Schloss Solitude was originally designed to act as a
refugium, a place of quiet, reflection and solitude (thus the name). Construction of the castle was plagued by political and financial difficulties. Karl Eugen had taken Württemberg into the
Seven Years' WarThe Seven Years' War lasted between 1754 and 1763 and involved all of the major European powers of the period. The war pitted Prussia and Britain and a coalition of smaller German states against an alliance consisting of Austria, France, Russia, Sweden, and Saxony...
on the losing side against
PrussiaPrussia was a historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries this state had substantial influence on German and European history...
. The building exceeded the budget allocated by the duchy of Württemberg. Further, political wrangling between the duke and influential Stuttgart land barons led to the duke moving temporarily from Stuttgart to
LudwigsburgLudwigsburg is a city in Germany, about north of Stuttgart's city center, near the river Neckar. It is the capital of the Ludwigsburg District , and belongs to the Stuttgart Region in the Administrative region of Stuttgart.- History :The middle of Neckarland, in which Ludwigsburg lies, was...
. In the long run, the castle was prohibitively expensive to keep just as a temporary residence. In 1770 it housed a high school founded by Duke Eugen. In 1775, the Karlsschule academy moved to Castle Solitude. It served as an academy of arts, a
military academyA military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the Army, the Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard or provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three types of...
, and later a general
universityA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
for children of the elite. Eventually, maintenance costs led to its closure as a school after the Duke's death late in the 18th century. Between 1972 and 1983, the Federal Republic of Germany restored the castle.
Use of the castle today
Since 1990, the annexed buildings (
Officen-building and
Kavaliers-building) have housed the 'Castle Solitude'
academyAn academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, north of Athens, Greece.-The original Academy:Before the Akademia was a...
. The
Kavaliers building incorporates living quarters for students.
Architecture
Castle Solitude was designed by a
working groupA working group is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers working on new research activities that would be difficult to develop under traditional funding mechanisms . The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months and several years...
at the ducal court under the guidance of
Philippe de La Guêpière Philippe de La Guêpière, was a French architect whose main commissions were from Karl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg.-Early life :...
with active input from Duke
Karl EugenKarl Eugen, Duke of Württemberg was the eldest son of Duke Karl I Alexander and Maria Augusta Anna of Thurn and Taxis .- Maternal ancestry :...
and master craftsmen. Its exterior is typical
RococoRococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings...
. On the inside, however, the style is characteristic of
classicismClassicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for classical antiquity, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. The art of classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained: of the Discobolus Sir Kenneth Clark observed, "if we object to his restraint...
: instead of the irregular lively forms typical of Rococo, the proportions of the rooms and wall are typically classical in design.
Solitude avenue
The northern main
gateA gate is a point of entry to a space enclosed by walls, or an opening in a fence. Gates may prevent or control entry or exit, or they may be merely decorative. Other terms for gate include yett and port....
of the castle marks the beginning of
Solitudeallee, a partially tree-lined straight avenue leads directly to
LudwigsburgLudwigsburg is a city in Germany, about north of Stuttgart's city center, near the river Neckar. It is the capital of the Ludwigsburg District , and belongs to the Stuttgart Region in the Administrative region of Stuttgart.- History :The middle of Neckarland, in which Ludwigsburg lies, was...
over 13 km. Duke Karl-Eugen commissioned the building of the avenue from 1764 to 1768 as a connecting route to the residence palace in
LudwigsburgLudwigsburg is a city in Germany, about north of Stuttgart's city center, near the river Neckar. It is the capital of the Ludwigsburg District , and belongs to the Stuttgart Region in the Administrative region of Stuttgart.- History :The middle of Neckarland, in which Ludwigsburg lies, was...
. The avenue, which is still largely intact today, leads via Stuttgart-
WeilimdorfWeilimdorf is a north-western suburb of the German city of Stuttgart and covers an area of 12,6 km² with a population of around 30,0001 . It first became part of Stuttgart in 1933 and until that time was a separate entity with its own administration which was then subsumed into the...
past Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and Stuttgart-Stammheim. Only in Weilimdorf, where it intersects the main street, and in Ludwigsburg, where it is interrupted by the railway, are there minor irregularities. According to a plaque inside the castle, the avenue served as the baseline for the Württemberg land survey of 1820 and measures exactly 40,118.718 Paris feet or 13,032.14 meters.
Race track
After 1903 Castle Solitude was the finishing point of hill races. In later years, the grounds of the castle served as a hostel for drivers. From 1935 to 1965, the 11.3 kilometers
SolituderennenThe Solituderennen events and the 11.4 km Solitudering near Stuttgart were named after the nearby Castle Solitude. Motorsports events were held there from 1903 to 1965....
course south of the castle was used for
World ChampionshipA world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
motorcycleA motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are the most affordable form of...
Grand Prixstyle="float:right"|-|Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, 250cc , and MotoGP...
racing. From 1961 to 1965, a series of non-championship
Formula 1Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1, and currently officially referred to as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants...
races were also held on the same weekends, welcoming drivers such as
John SurteesJohn Surtees, OBE is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver from England. He remains the only person to have won World Championships on both two and four wheels. He is also the ambassador of the Racing Steps Foundation.-Motorcycle racing career:Surtees was the son of a...
,
Jim ClarkJim Clark OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland.He was the dominant driver of his era, winning two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965. At the time of his death, he had won more Grand Prix races and achieved more Grand Prix pole positions than any other driver...
,
Dan GurneyDaniel Sexton Gurney is an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner.The son of a Metropolitan Opera star, he was born in Port Jefferson, New York, but moved to California as a teenager...
and
Jack BrabhamSir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One champion in 1959, 1960 and 1966. He was a founder of the Brabham racing team and race car constructor that bore his name....
.
In their heyday, the Solitude races attracted crowds of 288,000 spectators, but they were abandoned in 1966.
In 2003, a
revival competition was staged in and around the castle with former competitors and ex-world champions such as
Giacomo AgostiniGiacomo Agostini is an Italian multi-time world champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Nicknamed Ago, he is the all-time leader in victories in motorcycle Grand Prix history, with 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships titles...
. A rally to commemorate the 50th anniversary of races was held in 2004.
Suburb
The area of Castle Solitude belonged to
GerlingenGerlingen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 9 km west of Stuttgart, and 15 km southwest of Ludwigsburg. It is twinned with the British town Seaham, situated on the coast of north-east England and French town Vesoul....
until the 31st of March 1942, at which point it was assigned to the suburb of
BotnangBotnang is a district of the City of Stuttgart and lies between Feuerbach, Stuttgart-West and Vaihingen.- Geography :Botnang is almost entirely surrounded by woodland and lies in the hills to the west of Stuttgart. The centre of Botnang lies 316 metres above sea level...
before being integrated into the district of Stuttgart-West in 1956.
External links