Monrepos Castle

As early as the 16th century, the Dukes of Württemberg valued the area around Lake Eglosheim for hunting. Duke Eberhard Ludwig had an octagonal pavilion, the “Seehäuslein,” built here in 1714. Under Duke Carl Eugen, the area was redesigned in Baroque style from 1755, a rectangular lake was created, and construction of a pleasure palace began in 1760. However, this project was interrupted after four years and only resumed under Duke Friedrich I (later King). Master builder Nikolaus Friedrich von Thouret redesigned the complex in Neoclassical style from 1804, laid out the lake garden in English landscape style, and named the palace “Monrepos.” It included a dairy farm and a large animal park. King Friedrich frequently used Monrepos for hunting excursions and festivities, for which a festival building with a theater was constructed.