Karlsruhe Castle

The construction of Karlsruhe Palace began in 1715 under Margrave Karl Wilhelm of Baden-Durlach. Until 1918, it served as the residential palace for the Margraves and later Grand Dukes of Baden. The original structure, designed by Jakob Friedrich von Batzendorf, included wooden elements that were replaced by a stone reconstruction in 1746. The palace comprised two floors and mansards, flanked by long side wings. An originally freestanding, seven-story tower was connected to the main building by open wooden galleries. Under the reign of Karl Friedrich, a reconstruction based on plans by Balthasar Neumann, executed by Friedrich von Kesslau, took place until 1770. This added larger windows and doors, as well as pavilion structures between the central wing and the side wings.