Bruchsal Palace experienced its golden age in the 18th century. The religious lords, i.e. the Prince Bishops of Speyer, had exquisite taste. They decorated the rooms with sumptuous furniture, tapestries and art objects. In the Second World War the building was destroyed and then rebuilt. However, the original room structure of the rooms of state was lost. Now the State Palaces and Gardens (SPG) intends to restore this structure.
The original appointments have survived and it will be possible to present them in a coherent context in a few years. In addition, two Rococo console tables, pieces proven to have once been part of the furnishings of Bruchsal Palace, have also been purchased at auction. After the Margrave of Baden, these tables came into the possession of the French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent following an auction. After his death, the SPG in turn succeeded in purchasing these valuable pieces in order to make them accessible to the public once again.
In the current issue we portray two energetic personalities. The first is the Princess of Württemberg Sophie Dorothea, the later Czarina Maria Feodorowna, who acted with a good heart and intelligence. The other is the last court painter of Baden-Baden, Joseph Wolfgang Hauwiller. Two paintings at Rastatt Palace commemorate the painter. They are allegories of worldly and divine music.
Occasionally we present the accounts of journeys of royal persons. This time the selection covers the bridal journey of Princess Charlotte of Württemberg. She traveled with her dowry and her companions to St. Petersburg to meet with her future husband. The second traveler, Stephanie Napoleon, was already married when she set off on her journey from Paris to Karlsruhe and Mannheim to her husband, Grand Duke Carl. She did not like to travel...
The reign of the Teutonic Order (Deutscher Orden) in the small town of Mergentheim in Franconia was a long one. However, in 1809 that reign came to an end, when the King of Württemberg Friedrich I became the new sovereign. Many things changed locally after that. A new department recently opened at the Museum of the Teutonic Order (Deutschordensmuseum) in Bad Mergentheim reminds visitors of the fact that the Teutonic Order does indeed still exist elsewhere today.
A fine example of Baroque wooden architecture in Württemberg are the historic roof structures of the Ludwigsburg residential palace. The mansard roofs were extremely modern in their age. A look behind the scenes is occasionally possible as part of special guided tours (for example, on 11 October). In this case a conference for experts with a building historian will even take place.
The regular sections in the magazine also cover a wealth of interesting topics. In our series on nobility, the rank of the grand duke is explained in greater detail. And this time the trip tip takes readers to Heidelberg, where the "Philosophenweg" affords beautiful views of the castle, which proudly stands above the Neckar River on show for all to see.
In addition to a wealth of other interesting topics, the magazine also contains tips on events with information on special guided tours.
The issue is available here in German only.