Winterpalais (Gotha)

Predecessor buildings of the Winter Palace were already visible on city views of Gotha around 1730. At that time, the property was outside the city fortifications. Around 1790, it was inhabited by Court Marshal Eberhard S. von Frankenberg. In 1798, Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg acquired the estate for use as a guesthouse. After the Duke's death in 1804, his son August Emil took over the government. His second wife, Caroline Amalie of Hesse-Kassel, became hostess to her mother, Electress Wilhelmine Karoline, who fled Napoleon in 1806. For her, the palace was extended in 1811. After the Electress returned to Kassel in 1813, Duchess Caroline increasingly resided in the palace, possibly due to an estrangement from her husband. In 1821, Duke Emil August gifted the Winter Palace to his wife. Following his death in 1822, the palace underwent extensive redesign and expansion in 1822–1823 to meet the wishes of the widowed Duchess Caroline. In 1845, she hosted Queen Victoria and Prince Albert here. After Caroline's death in 1848, the palace served various purposes, including as a residence for state ministers and as a boarding school.