Hunting palace and summer residence with glorious views
Solitude Palace
Console table and chair in the antechamber to Duke Carl Eugen's apartment

Representational ambiance for important guestsThe king's apartment

Six sumptuous rooms of various sizes, shapes, and decor comprise the official apartment in Solitude Palace. It lies west of the White Hall, the center of the palace, and across from the drawing rooms. Visitors were initially led in to the hall.

Floor plan of Solitude Palace from 1785, the apartment is to the right of the oval White Hall

Floor plan of the bel étage of Solitude Palace.

The ducal rooms were there to be viewed

The luxurious apartment was there for representational purposes and might have been used as lodgings for important guests. Carl Eugen had a large, private apartment in the cavalier building. The six-room apartment is typical for a royal apartment of the Rococo period. The antechamber is followed by the Marble Hall, which is the only room that is lit solely by an overhead light. This is followed by the Palm Room. It served as an entrance room to the bedroom on the south side and to the two cabinets on the north side.

Visitors view the marble room in Solitude Palace

Expensive stucco marble covers the Marble Room.

Still impressive today: Antechamber and Marble Hall

The antechamber is a prelude. Wood paneling in green and gold and late Rococo ornamentation were intended to enchant guests, and they continue to do so today. The carvings and stucco work are inventive and of the highest quality. The decorations made of stucco marble in the neighboring Marble Hall are just as impressive. It differs from the other rooms of the ducal apartment in its Classic architecture—the signature of a student of architect Philippe de La Guêpière.

Antechamber to Duke Carl Eugen's apartment in Solitude Palace
Marble Hall in Duke Carl Eugen's apartment in Solitude Palace

The antechamber (left) and Marble Hall (right) were furnished to be representational and magnificent.

The Palm Room in Duke Carl Eugen's apartment in Solitude Palace.

Heavenly Rococo in the Palm Room.

Like being in a palm garden

Carved groupings of palms on the walls, forming a bower-like scaffolding, and floor length glass doors make the Palm Room look like an airy garden arbor. The gilding has a variety of gold tones, from light gold to red gold. This makes the carvings look especially vivid. Like the neighboring bedroom with green and gold wooden walls, the design follows the style of the late Rococo. The expensive embroidery of the original state bed in the bedroom, which has been preserved, displays Chinese motifs, which were very fashionable in the 18th century.

The library in Duke Carl Eugen's apartment in Solitude Palace

Paneled walls in the Library Cabinet.

Study and library: Was work really done here?

Like the other rooms in the ducal apartment, they were only used for court representation. The "Writing Cabinet" is done in shades of gray and gold. The carvings and stucco work display scientific instruments, symbols of wisdom and regency, which showed that the room was a place for intellectual work. The wall paneling and the bookshelves in the "Library Cabinet" are carried out with ornate paintwork that mimics woodgrain. What's more, the artist demonstrated their artistry through this imitation; in fact, it was prized more highly than "actual" woodgrain.

When visiting the Marble Hall, be sure to look at the artistic pattern of the parquet floor!

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