1609
Sibylla of Württemberg moved into Leonberg palace. She commissioned the renowned court architect Heinrich Schickhardt (1558-1635) to redecorate the palace in the current prevailing taste and to lay out a pleasure garden.
1248 |
The town of Leonberg is founded by Count Ulrich I of Württemberg and is therefore one of Württemberg's oldest towns. |
After 1248 |
The Counts of Württemberg erect a castle at the south-western corner of the town. |
1348 |
The castle is heavily damage in an earthquake. |
1550 |
Christoph becomes the fourth Duke of Württemberg and covers his restrengthened country with palaces to demonstrate power and presence. |
1560-1570 |
Duke Christoph has the original town castle converted to a palace by Silvester Berwart the Younger, according to plans of the architect Aberlin Tretsch. |
On 29 January 1608 |
Friedrich I of Württemberg dies and leaves his widow Duchess Sibylla of Württemberg, born Anhalt-Zerbst-Bernburg, a substantial inheritance. She chooses Leonberg Palace as her widow's seat, has the palace interior redecorated and a pleasure garden laid out below the palace. |
Sibylla of Württemberg moved into Leonberg palace. She commissioned the renowned court architect Heinrich Schickhardt (1558-1635) to redecorate the palace in the current prevailing taste and to lay out a pleasure garden.
1613 |
Another section of land is purchased for a tree and kitchen garden. |
1634 |
Following the Battle of Nördlingen, the imperial Generalissimo Matthias Gallas moves into the palace with a 90-person entourage. |
1649-1659 |
Leonberg Palace becomes the widow's seat of Anna Sabina of Holstein-Sonderburg, widow of Duke Administrator Julius Friedrich. |
1677-1712 |
Magdalena Sibylla of Hessen-Darmstadt, widow of Duke Wilhelm Ludwig, uses the palace at times as her widow's seat. |
After 1742 |
The palace complex is no longer a royal residence and the Bitter Orange Garden becomes overgrown. |
1765 |
Duke Karl Eugen attempts to sell the palace, however he fails due to the lack of financial strength of the citizens of Leonberg. |
In the late 18th century |
The building primarily houses government offices and apartments of civil servants. |
1796-1801 |
Elisabeth Dorothea Schiller, Friedrich Schiller's mother, spends her twilight years at Leonberg Palace. |
Since the 19th century |
The palace has housed the tax office. |
In the early 1970's |
The foundations of the garden are rediscovered during clearing work. |
Until 1980 |
The garden can be completely restored based on the original plans of Heinrich Schickhardt. |
2009 |
The 400th anniversary of the Bitter Orange Garden will be celebrated with the restoration of the spatial limit of the central axis with two pillars with obelisks, with the balustrade framing of the staircases leading downward, the appointments of the grotto and new planting according the latest archival findings. |