Solitude Palace could be described as a pavilion ensemble with the character as a small city. Everything is arranged symmetrically, typical for the Baroque period. Individual buildings housed living areas for the duke, royal household, and guests, drawing rooms, and service areas.
The outbuildings frame the palace building.
The central group of buildings is similar to Baroque stage sets. When traveling the long approach from Ludwigsburg, Solitude Palace both caught the eye and offered a vantage point. The outbuildings to the side were intended to loosen the whole impression and led gradually to the garden area. They are lined up along a semicircular layout, similar to the radial arrangements of Baroque hunting lodges.
The perrons lead directly to the terrace where a marvelous view is guaranteed.
The representative main floor on the second level, the bel étage, rises above the basement level, which is surrounded and hidden by arched arcade. These arches support a terrace that runs around the building. On both the front and rear sides, curved double flights of stairs lead up to it. This circular platform, called a "belvedere," was a favorite feature in pleasure palaces and served as both a vantage point and a royal reception area.
The center of the main floor houses the White Hall, a representative ceremonial hall. The west wing houses the duke's official apartment, including a bedroom, study, and library, while the drawing rooms are in the east wing. Both sets of rooms served representational purposes. The present entrance does not correspond to the historical arrangement: The bel étage was accessed through the White Hall. There were additional apartments for high-ranking guests on the basement level. On the whole, the palace was primarily the backdrop for courtly ceremony; in fact, the duke and his guests were actually housed in the administrative building and cavalier building.
The White Hall: where the royal household celebrated under Duke Carl Eugen
Duke Carl Eugen lived in the east wing.
On the south side, the palace building is framed by two wings, each consisting of a head building, single story semicircular side wings and rear wings. The west wing—called the administrative building—housed the theater, a painting gallery as well as a confectionery, the coffee storeroom, and the silver chamber. The east wing—called the cavalier building—housed the duke's private apartment on the ground floor and his mistress' apartment, drawing rooms, and ducal palace chapel on the upper floor.
The royal household lived in the cavalier house.
Because the two wings served to house the duke and his court and supply practical needs, they took priority during the construction between 1764 and 1766. From here, the duke was able to stay apprised of the construction work performed on the main building. 10 pavilions to both the west and east extended the wings. In the cavalier houses, there were: a dining hall, a billiard room, baking, roasting, and cavaliers kitchens, the domain of the head cook, administration, rooms for the royal household, and for servants.
Interested in stepping back in time to the days of Duke Carl Eugen? Take part in a costumed tour of Solitude Palace and gossip with Franziska von Hohenheim.
