History worth reading aboutCollections

Paris as a source of inspiration: Like many members of the Baroque nobility, the duke toured the city and purchased luxury goods.

Duke Carl Eugen employed artists from France for his court theater, which enjoyed a good reputation across Europe to the late 18th century.

Refined cuts and luxurious fabrics, embroidery and lace: Duke Carl Eugen and his retinue dressed in French fashions.

Thanks to some skillful negotiations, Duke Friedrich II von Württemberg drew considerable gains from his alliance with Napoleon Bonaparte.

Lavishly set tables with unusual dishes were a sign of the ruler's wealth and power. The seating order was a reflection of ranking order.

Many servants were responsible for retrieving ingredients for the dishes and then transporting the dishes to the royal table.

New porcelain containers were created for these luxury beverages. These valuable pieces are now housed in the ceramics museum.

Every year around Carnival (November to February), Duke Carl Eugen brought a piece of Italy to his Swabian homeland in the form of a colorful masquerade.

Pure luxury: Porcelain of the highest quality was manufactured using a secret formula. The white gold was produced by order of the duke.

When a palace turns into an ice palace, inhabitants get creative so as not to freeze all winter.

On November 9, 1918, the republic was proclaimed, including in Baden and Württemberg. Many residential palaces became museums.

In 1962, Charles de Gaulle gave a speech in the palace courtyard. It was a milestone on the path to the German-French treaty of friendship.