Old Castle Stuttgart

The beginnings of the Old Castle date back to 950, when a moated castle was built to protect the then-Stutengarten. In the 14th century, it became the main residence of the Counts of Württemberg and the court chamber. Between 1553 and 1578, Dukes Christoph and Ludwig had the complex converted into a Renaissance castle. During this period, the Rider's Staircase by Blasius Berwart was built in 1560, and the castle church was consecrated in 1562. The conference hall also received its design. In the 18th century, the moats surrounding the castle were filled in. A fire in 1931 destroyed parts of the Dürnitz building, including its towers. Even before reconstruction was completed, the castle suffered severe damage in World War II, during which parts of the ethnographic collection of the State Museum of Württemberg were also lost. The reconstruction, led by Paul Schmitthenner, lasted until 1971.