Despite numerous structural alterations over the course of its history, the Old Palace (Altes Schloss) in Stuttgart still imparts the well-fortified impression of a medieval castle. Although its external appearance looks more like a medieval fantasy, visitors can still easily imagine a surrounding mote and the few, well-protected entrances to the former castle today.
Arcade courtyards were popular in the Renaissance in southern Germany and Italy. They corresponded to the increased need for representation of the Renaissance sovereigns. The arcade courtyard in the Old Palace in Stuttgart is characterized by exceptionally splendid decoration and has three stories. There is neither a direct model nor a successor. Another special feature are the Corinthian capitals which, in contrast to the classical column arrangement, complete the fluted columns at the top.
The complex of the New Palace (Neues Schloss) corresponds to the representation needs of a ruler in the 18th century. When Carl Eugen became Duke of Württemberg, he declared that he did not intend to move into the Old Palace. A generous baroque palace realized by Eberhard Ludwig was available to him in Ludwigsburg. The city of Stuttgart and the provincial legislature were required to bear part of the costs for building an appropriate palace, and in 1746 the cornerstone for the New Palace was laid. Today the proportions still betray the fact that the complex was dimensioned for a baroque royal household.
Solitude Palace is a jewel of a building that unifies an extremely ambitious interior in an extremely small space. In the adjoining rooms and cabinets late blossoms of the Rococo appointments can be admired, for example animated stuccowork palm leaves from which sculptured rose garlands hang down.
Hohenheim Palace with its enormous dimensions was an anachronism when it was built. Smaller projects were already more modern at that time. Its interior appointments then also include early classicistic wall decorations, which correspond more to the new direction in style.
Die Grabkapelle auf dem Württemberg und Schloss Rosenstein sind herausragende Beispiele klassizistischer Baukunst von der Hand Giovanni Saluccis: antike Vorbilder wie das römische Pantheon und Palladios Villa Rotonda klingen bei der Grabkapelle an, während Schloss Rosensteins Eingangsportal ein säulengetragenes Giebelfeld mit Szenen aus der griechischen Mythologie schmückt.The Sepulchral Chapel (Grabkapelle) on Württemberg Mountain and Rosenstein Palace are outstanding examples of classicistic architecture from the hand of Giovanni Salucci. Memories of antique models such as the Roman Pantheon and Palladios Villa Rotonda are evoked by the Sepulchral Chapel, while the portal at Rosenstein Palace is adorned by a gabled triangle with scenes from Greek mythology and supported by columns.
The Wilhelma, built by King Wilhelm I in the mid 19th century in the Moorish style, bears witness to the enthusiasm of that era for the Orient. The longing for a world which existed far from the reality of the emerging industrial age is documented in this historicizing style, as is the expansion of national horizons with growing world trade and colonial policy.